FAQ's

Dr. Ranjeet Bajpai (MD, DNB) is a Senior Consultant in Radiation Oncology with over 20 years of clinical experience. He currently practices at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai and Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai. His core specialisations include:

• Precision Radiation Therapy — SBRT & Adaptive Radiotherapy
• Healthcare Data & Clinical Research
• Preventive Oncology & Public Health
• AI & Big Data in Cancer Care

Patients and peers trust Dr. Bajpai for several reasons:

• 20+ years treating complex cancers at Mumbai's leading institutions
• International training in cutting-edge radiotherapy techniques
• Expert in IMRT, IGRT, SBRT, Adaptive RT, and Image-Guided Brachytherapy
• Strong research and academic background with published work
• Practices at both Navi Mumbai (Apollo) and South Mumbai (Sir HN Reliance) — accessible across the city

Dr. Bajpai currently sees patients at two premier institutions:

• Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai — serving patients from Navi Mumbai, Kharghar, Belapur, Vashi, and surrounding areas
• Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai — located in South Mumbai, serving the greater Mumbai region

He was also formerly associated with PD Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai.

Yes. Dr. Bajpai actively welcomes second-opinion consultations. If you have already received a diagnosis or treatment recommendation elsewhere and wish to explore your options, please bring all relevant imaging, pathology reports, and prior treatment records to your appointment.

Radiation therapy uses precisely targeted high-energy beams to damage the DNA of cancer cells, preventing them from growing. Because cancer cells are less efficient at repairing DNA damage, radiation can selectively destroy tumours while protecting surrounding healthy tissue. Modern techniques like IMRT, IGRT, and SBRT sculpt the dose tightly around the tumour's exact shape for maximum safety and effectiveness.

SBRT delivers very high, precisely focused radiation doses in just 3–5 sessions rather than the traditional 25–35. It is especially effective for:

• Early-stage lung and liver cancers
• Prostate cancer (as a standalone or boost treatment)
• Brain metastases (Stereotactic Radiosurgery / SRS)
• Patients who are not surgical candidates
• Oligometastatic disease (limited spread to a few sites)

SBRT is often called a non-surgical alternative to surgery due to its ablative precision.

As treatment progresses, tumours shrink and anatomy shifts. Adaptive RT uses repeated imaging to re-plan and re-optimise radiation delivery in real time — ensuring the tumour continues to receive the full prescribed dose while surrounding healthy organs are protected. Dr. Bajpai is an expert in Adaptive RT, particularly for head & neck, cervical, and bladder cancers.

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) uses computer-controlled beams that vary their intensity across the treatment field, allowing the dose to conform tightly to irregular tumour shapes while avoiding critical structures like the spinal cord, salivary glands, and optic nerves. Conventional radiotherapy used simple uniform beams. IMRT is a major advance — especially for head & neck cancers, where protecting the salivary glands prevents permanent dry mouth.

Radiation therapy is completely painless — similar to having a regular X-ray. You lie still on a treatment table while the machine moves around you. Each session lasts 10–30 minutes, most of which is careful positioning. You feel nothing during beam delivery and can breathe and remain comfortable throughout.

Dr. Bajpai provides specialised radiation treatment for all major cancer types:

• Head & Neck Cancers — oral cavity, throat, larynx, thyroid
• Breast Cancer — post-lumpectomy, post-mastectomy, nodal irradiation
• Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers — oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, rectum, anal canal
• Prostate Cancer — definitive and post-operative RT, SBRT
• Gynaecological Cancers — cervical, uterine, ovarian, vaginal
• Brain Tumors — gliomas, meningiomas, brain metastases, acoustic neuromas
• Lung Cancer — Non-Small Cell & Small Cell, SBRT for early-stage

Absolutely. Radiation is frequently part of a multimodal strategy:

• Concurrent chemoradiation — chemotherapy given during RT to sensitise the tumour (head & neck, cervical, lung cancers)
• Post-operative (adjuvant) RT — after surgery to eliminate microscopic disease (breast, rectal cancers)
• Pre-operative (neoadjuvant) RT — to shrink the tumour before surgery (rectal, oesophageal cancers)

Dr. Bajpai works closely with surgical and medical oncologists to co-ordinate a comprehensive plan.

Radiation plays a central role in breast cancer management:

• After breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), RT significantly reduces local recurrence risk
• After mastectomy in high-risk cases, RT improves survival outcomes
• Heart- and lung-sparing techniques (DIBH, IMRT) protect vital organs — especially for left-sided breast cancers
• Hypofractionated RT shortens the treatment course from 5–6 weeks to 3–4 weeks without compromising results

Brachytherapy places radioactive sources inside or next to the tumour. IGBT uses real-time MRI or CT imaging to guide precise placement — delivering maximum tumour dose while protecting the bladder, rectum, and bowel. It is the gold standard for cervical cancer and is also used for uterine, vaginal, prostate, and breast cancers.

Side effects depend on the treatment site and technique:

• Acute effects (during/shortly after treatment): fatigue, skin redness, temporary sore throat (head & neck), mild nausea (abdominal RT). These typically resolve within weeks of completing treatment.
• Late effects (months to years later): rare with modern techniques — may include mild dryness of the mouth or localised fibrosis. Advanced planning tools are specifically designed to minimise these.

Every treatment plan proactively limits dose to critical organs-at-risk.

No. External beam radiotherapy (IMRT, IGRT, SBRT) does not make you radioactive. Radiation is present only while the machine is on and leaves no residual radiation in your body. You can safely be around children, pregnant women, and family members immediately after sessions. Note: Certain brachytherapy procedures may require brief periods of restricted contact — your care team will provide specific guidance.

Multiple layers of technology work together to protect healthy tissue:

• IMRT/VMAT — modulates beam intensity to sculpt dose around critical organs
• IGRT — daily imaging before each treatment to verify precise positioning
• 4D-CT planning — accounts for tumour motion due to breathing (lung, liver, pancreas)
• Adaptive RT — continuously adjusts for anatomical changes during the course
• DIBH (Deep Inspiration Breath Hold) — moves the heart away from the field during breast treatment

Dr. Bajpai is at the forefront of AI and Big Data integration in radiation oncology:

• Automated contouring — AI tools precisely delineate tumours and critical structures on CT/MRI
• Treatment plan optimisation — machine learning identifies optimal dose distributions faster
• Predictive analytics — analysing datasets to predict recurrence risk or toxicity, enabling proactive interventions
• Clinical research — ongoing studies leveraging real-world healthcare data to improve outcomes

Preventive oncology focuses on reducing cancer risk through early detection and lifestyle changes. Dr. Bajpai's work includes:

• Counselling high-risk individuals on screening schedules (mammography, PSA, colonoscopy, Pap smear, HPV testing)
• HPV vaccination advocacy for cervical and head & neck cancer prevention
• Tobacco and alcohol cessation guidance
• Community health education and public health research initiatives

Early detection is the most powerful weapon against cancer.

You can reach Dr. Bajpai through:

• Phone / WhatsApp: +91 99206 60560
• Email: rgvbajpai@gmail.com
• Hospital appointment desks at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai or Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital Mumbai
• Contact form on drranjeetbajpai.com

For urgent cases or patients travelling from outside Mumbai, please mention your preferred location when contacting us.

To make the most of your consultation, please bring:

• All imaging reports and original CDs: CT scans, MRI, PET-CT, X-rays
• Biopsy or histopathology reports (with original slides if available)
• Blood tests and tumour marker reports
• Previous treatment records (surgery notes, chemotherapy details, prior RT records)
• A list of current medications

A trusted family member or caregiver is welcome to accompany you.

Duration varies based on cancer type and intent:

• SBRT — 1–5 sessions (e.g., 3 for early-stage lung cancer, 5 for prostate)
• Hypofractionated RT — 15–20 sessions (3–4 weeks); increasingly standard for breast and prostate
• Conventional fractionation — 25–35 sessions (5–7 weeks); used for head & neck, curative treatments
• Palliative RT — 1–10 sessions to relieve symptoms (pain, obstruction, bleeding)

Yes. Dr. Bajpai is one of the few oncologists who practices at leading hospitals in both Navi Mumbai and South Mumbai, making him accessible to patients across the entire Mumbai metropolitan area — including Thane, Vashi, Panvel, Kharghar, Belapur, Lower Parel, Dadar, and Mahalaxmi.