- You’ve been integrating ancient wisdom with modern medicine. Can you share how this approach benefits your surgical oncology patients?
Absolutely, I believe that surgery isn’t just about cutting. It’s about restoring the rhythm, and in cancer surgery, many times, the patient needs surgery also. I’m not saying that surgery is not the thing to do—you should definitely do it. In my practice, I try and integrate ancient concepts, not just Ayurvedic, like breath regulation, KDM rhythm alignment, and food energy—with cutting-edge laparoscopic precision, obviously. Even ice baths are great. Even things like molecular hydrogen water, which I drink daily, are great for cancer patients—both pre-op, post-op, and during surgery. Obviously, when the patient is NBM (nil by mouth), they can’t have that water. This helps the patient not just to recover faster but to reconnect with their body’s own healing intelligence. Then, when modern tools meet with these timeless truths, healing becomes whole and holistic.
- What are the most overlooked early signs of gastrointestinal cancers, and why do people often ignore them?
Early signs of cancers anywhere in general, including gastrointestinal cancers, usually are just whispers—like chronic acidity, mild bloating, irregular bowel habits, or unexplained weight loss. These things happen very commonly in India, people often ignore them because they normalize stress or blame it on lifestyle. But gut health, as we all know through the gut-brain connection, is our second brain, and any long-standing gut discomfort deserves attention.Silence isn’t healing. It is delaying.You should not just curb your symptoms of acidity or weight loss or anything like bloating by just popping an antacid. You should understand. But sadly, that’s not the situation in India, and that is one of the main reasons why cancers are rising in India.
- In your experience, how does emotional support impact recovery in cancer surgery patients?
It’s everything. But again, very sad in India, because of the population and because of the lack of time for doctors, this is not the case. I have seen that patients with similar surgeries recover very differently—the ones who are emotionally resilient, with community support and with a little bit more extra counseling by the surgeon. I try and mentally calm the patients so that they can bounce back faster. Because mindset is everything, and healing isn’t just physical. The nervous system, the vagal tone, the HRV—which I am extremely passionate about and delve deeply into—all respond to emotional stress. So compassion is the true medicine, and I hope more doctors practice this.
- Why do you think there’s still a stigma around cancer screenings for men, and how can we change that?
Unfortunately, many men associate health checkups with weakness. And I always believe—I am a biohacker and in the field of health optimization—that health is not just the avoidance of disease. If you don’t have any disease, that doesn’t mean that you’re healthy. So screenings—not just for cancer but overall screening—should be done by everyone who’s trying to get to their best version. But people don’t even think about these things. We need to rewrite the narratives. Screenings are for strength, for early action. We are not doing it just for early detection in cancer. Early detection is not fear-based—even it is future-focused. I say this often: don’t wait for the pain. Listen to the whispers of the body before they become the screams.
- You’ve spoken globally about surgical innovations. What are the most promising advancements in laparoscopic cancer surgeries today?
Right now, I’m most excited about laser precision tools, minimal access robotics, and AI-assisted margins, and incorporation of CT scans and MRIs on the OT table—which I have witnessed personally .During my diploma there, I saw this. Surgery is becoming smarter, less invasive, and more accurate. But the real innovation is when patients recover not just faster but with less trauma, less scarring, and more confidence in their body.
- How can gut health directly influence a person’s cancer risk or recovery journey?
I think it is everything. The gut is the gateway. Gut health is dependent on specific inflammatory foods, which are very specific to every body. And cancer is usually caused because of a lot of inflammation in the body due to cellular dehydration. Poor gut microbiome diversity leads to chronic inflammation, immune suppression, and higher cancer risk. If you take care of your gut health prior—which I give to everybody—and in recovery too, a stronger gut leads to better nutrient absorption, better immunity, and better chemo tolerance. So I always say this: Heal the gut, and the gut will heal you.
- You were part of an international obesity and diabetes trial. How does metabolic health connect to cancer prevention?
In our international trial, we saw so many correlations—specifically with visceral fat, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation. Obesity isn’t just a cancer risk; it worsens so many outcomes of other surgeries also. And metabolic health isn’t just about fat loss; it’s about cancer prevention at the cellular level. Again, everything is connected. And the connection, really, is gut health, where we have to think about anti-inflammatory or inflammatory foods, which are very specific. Even an avocado can be inflammatory for some people. So there is no superfood for all—that’s what I say.
- What advice do you have for young Indian doctors hoping to match international standards in surgical practice?
Stay rooted in your values, but raise your standards. Global doesn’t mean Western—it means being open, evidence-based, empathetic, and client-focused. I am also working on publishing more. Stay hungry for skills. Travel, observe, innovate—and most importantly, never forget that surgery is both a science and a soul.Your scalpel must serve something greater than your ego. As surgeons, we must never let ego define us. Many say, “I healed this person.” But I always tell my patients—and deeply believe—that I only perform the surgery with precision. That is my duty. That is my job. I do not heal anyone. Nature heals. Science, spirituality, or God heals. I don’t. I cannot even fully explain it—perhaps it’s quantum energy, or something beyond us, that truly heals. I am just a channel. And that’s what will keep you grounded. But always aim high. Be passionate about what you’re trying to do.
I am just a channel. And that’s what keeps me grounded. But, always aim high. Be passionate about what you’re trying to do.
We, as doctors treat, God cures.
