Institute for Pulmonary Care in Oncology
Mumbai and Western India’s dedicated centre for the pulmonary complications of cancer and cancer treatment. A focused vertical within Chhajed Lung Care and Sleep Centre, built for oncologists who need a pulmonology partner they can trust with urgent referrals, and for cancer patients whose breathing needs care alongside their cancer care.
What is Pulmonary Care in Oncology?
The lungs are involved in cancer more than almost any other organ system. A tumour may start in the lung, spread to it, or press on the airway. Chemotherapy, radiation and newer immunotherapies can each injure lung tissue in their own way. Cancer treatment can also lower immunity, making the lungs vulnerable to infection, and pre-existing lung disease can determine whether a patient is even fit for surgery, chemotherapy or radiation in the first place.
Pulmonary care in oncology is the discipline that sits at this intersection. The Institute for Pulmonary Care in Oncology was created to give oncologists in Mumbai and Western India a single, dependable point of referral for every one of these situations, backed by Dr. Prashant Chhajed’s background in interventional pulmonology, EBUS-TBNA and Interstitial Lung Disease.
Why Every Cancer Patient May Need a Pulmonologist
- Lung or pleural involvement at diagnosis or relapse — metastases, malignant pleural effusion, or lymphangitic spread
- Breathlessness during or after chemotherapy or radiotherapy — new or worsening shortness of breath is never something to simply wait out
- Immunotherapy-related lung injury — checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis is increasingly common as immunotherapy use grows, and needs prompt recognition
- Chemotherapy- or radiation-induced lung injury — including drug-induced ILD and radiation fibrosis
- Central airway obstruction from tumour growth — causing breathlessness, stridor or recurrent infections
- Pre-treatment fitness assessment — pulmonary function testing before major oncologic surgery, chemotherapy or radiation
- Infections in neutropenic or immunocompromised patients — where standard treatment algorithms often need modification
- Pulmonary embolism and clot risk — cancer patients carry a materially higher risk of venous thromboembolism
- Sleep-disordered breathing and unexplained fatigue — frequently overlooked during active cancer treatment
- Long-term lung surveillance — for cancer survivors after chemotherapy or chest radiation
Our Services for Oncology Patients
Diagnostic
- EBUS-TBNA for mediastinal lymph node sampling and lung cancer staging
- Flexible and rigid bronchoscopy for tissue diagnosis
- High-resolution CT interpretation for treatment-related lung changes
- Pulmonary function testing with diffusion studies and 6 minute walk tests before major oncologic surgery
- Sleep studies for cancer-related fatigue and sleep-disordered breathing
Therapeutic & Interventional
- Airway stenting for malignant central airway obstruction and airway esophageal fistula
- Bronchoscopic tumour removal to relieve airway blockage
- Balloon bronchoplasty for radiation-induced airway strictures
- Diagnostic pleuroscopy/thoracoscopy and pleural biopsy. Pleuroscopic talc pleurodesis (talc poudrage)
- Indwelling pleural catheter placement for recurrent malignant pleural effusion
- Rigid bronchoscopy for central airway emergencies
- Diagnosis and management of checkpoint-inhibitor pneumonitis and other drug-induced lung injury
- Domiciliary oxygen and non-invasive ventilation planning
- Pulmonary rehabilitation for cancer survivors
For Oncologists — A Dedicated Referral Partner
The Institute exists so that an oncologist never has to wonder where to send a patient with a lung problem. What you can expect from us:
- Fast-track consultation for oncology referrals
- Input into treatment planning — pulmonary fitness assessment ahead of surgery, chemotherapy or radiation, and shared decision-making where useful
- EBUS-TBNA turnaround built around your treatment timeline — mediastinal staging without delaying oncologic decision-making
- Structured, shareable reports — for continuity across your oncology team
- Presence across Mumbai’s major hospital network — Chhajed Lung Care and Sleep Centre (Santacruz), Lilavati Hospital, Nanavati Max Super Specialty Hospital, and Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi
For Patients & Families
Going through cancer treatment is demanding enough without a new breathing problem to figure out on your own. Our team works directly with your oncologist, so your lung health is looked after as part of the same care plan — not as a separate, disconnected visit.
What a first visit typically involves:
- A detailed review of your cancer diagnosis, treatment history and current symptoms
- Coordination with your oncology team so nothing is duplicated or missed
- Clear explanation of what’s happening in your lungs and why
- A treatment plan focused on both symptom relief and your quality of life
About Dr. Prashant Chhajed — Bridging Interventional Pulmonology and Oncology
Dr. Prashant Chhajed is a Senior Respiratory Physician and Interventional Pulmonologist (MD, DETRD, DNB), with fellowship training at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney and St Vincents Hospital, Sydney; research and development of EBUS TBNA at Chiba University Hospital, Japan and a Privat Dozent from University Hospital Basel, Switzerland. He has authored 160+ peer-reviewed publications.
His core interventional skills — EBUS-TBNA, Rigid Bronchoscopy, Airway Stenting and Bronchoscopic Tumour removal — are precisely the tools used to stage lung cancer and manage malignant central airway obstruction, and his subspecialty experience in interstitial lung disease directly informs the diagnosis and management of drug- and radiation-induced lung injury in cancer patients.
Where We See Patients
Oncology patients and referring oncologists across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Western India can reach the Institute at any of the following:
- Chhajed Lung Care and Sleep Centre, Santacruz West, Mumbai
- Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Bandra West, Mumbai
- Nanavati Max Super Specialty Hospital, Vile Parle West, Mumbai
- Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, Navi Mumbai
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why would my oncologist refer me to a pulmonologist?
Cancer and its treatment can affect the lungs directly or indirectly — through tumour spread, treatment side effects, infection risk, or pre-existing lung conditions. A pulmonologist working alongside your oncologist ensures these issues are caught early and managed without disrupting your cancer treatment.
What is checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis?
It’s lung inflammation caused by immunotherapy drugs used in cancer treatment. It can range from mild to serious, and needs prompt recognition and, often, a change in treatment approach — something we manage in close coordination with your oncologist.
Can EBUS-TBNA replace a surgical biopsy for lung cancer staging?
I have breathlessness after radiotherapy — is this normal?
Some degree of lung change after chest radiation is common, but new or worsening breathlessness should always be assessed rather than assumed to be routine. Early evaluation helps distinguish expected changes from something that needs treatment.
What is a malignant pleural effusion and how is it managed?
It’s fluid build-up around the lung caused by cancer, which can cause significant breathlessness. Depending on how recurrent it is, management ranges from drainage procedures to a long-term indwelling pleural catheter for ongoing relief.
Does airway stenting hurt, and how long does relief last?
The procedure is done under anaesthesia, so it isn’t painful during placement. Relief from breathlessness is typically immediate, and the stent is monitored and adjusted as part of ongoing care.
Do I need to pause my cancer treatment to get a lung problem treated?
Usually not. Our approach is built specifically to fit around active oncology treatment timelines, so lung issues are addressed without unnecessary delays to your cancer care.
Do you coordinate directly with my cancer specialist?
Yes. We do our best to work as an extension of your oncology team and take the best effort to keep your care joined up rather than fragmented across specialists.