Department of Medical Oncology

The Department of Medical Oncology at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, under Manipal Academy of Higher Education, began in 1993 as a division of the Department of General Medicine under the leadership of Professor Joseph Thomas. It became an independent department in 2013 and is now an integral part of the Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre. The department provides systemic treatment for solid tumours and haematological malignancies, along with initial cancer evaluation, personalised treatment planning, survivorship care, and multidisciplinary oncology services for patients from neighbouring districts and other parts of Karnataka.

Highlights

Functions as part of the Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre and works closely with Radiation Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Palliative and Supportive Care, and Nuclear Medicine to provide coordinated cancer treatment.

Provides systemic therapy for the full spectrum of solid tumours and haematological malignancies, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and resource-appropriate oral metronomic chemotherapy.

Established an autologous bone-marrow transplant service that the official page describes as the first of its kind in coastal and central Karnataka and the only such facility in the district.

Runs outpatient and day-care chemotherapy services six days a week, supported by inpatient chemotherapy, isolation wards, and bone-marrow transplant facilities.

The department page reports approximately 2,000 patient registrations, around 100 new patients, and nearly 400 admissions each month. These service-volume figures should be reconfirmed before publication.

Delivers approximately 1,500 systemic treatments per month through day-care and inpatient facilities, according to the official page.

Administers complex chemotherapy protocols requiring close monitoring, including high-dose methotrexate and dose-adjusted R-EPOCH.

Faculty members are trained in precision medicine and incorporate personalised treatment principles into cancer care.

Participates actively in multidisciplinary tumour boards, with faculty moderating the Haematological Malignancies and Thoracic Oncology boards in accordance with national and international guidelines.

Coordinates with the Manipal Assisted Reproduction Centre to address fertility-preservation and oncofertility concerns among adolescent and young-adult patients.