Some milestones deserve to be celebrated – not with a grand ceremony, but with good food, good company, and a little time away from the operating room!

We recently took a short break with our team to celebrate completing 100 major cancer surgeries since beginning this journey at Apollo Hospitals.

When we started, the numbers came in as a trickle. One surgery, then another, gradually becoming a steady stream. We certainly hoped to build a busy and comprehensive surgical oncology practice, but we didn’t quite expect to reach this milestone so soon.

For me, though, this is about much more than a number. Behind every surgery is a patient who has placed their trust in us at one of the most difficult moments in their life – and a team that has come together to make that journey possible.

I am deeply grateful to my fellow consultant colleagues for the discussions, decisions, teamwork and amazing patient care.

To our surgical oncology residents – thank you for your enthusiasm, hard work and willingness to learn. You keep us on our toes and ensure that no clinical question remains unanswered.

Our physician assistant deserves special mention for keeping track of the countless details of each patient that need to be looked into.

And, very importantly, our practice managers – the people who make things happen behind the scenes. From coordinating patients and schedules to solving problems that surgeons sometimes don’t even know exist, they are an indispensable part of the team.

A surgical oncology practice is never about one surgeon. It is about a group of people working together, often under considerable pressure, with one common goal – doing the best possible for our patients.

And of course, this milestone celebration was also a brief reminder that a surgical team can actually sit down and eat ice-cream without discussing the next operation!

100 major surgeries. One team. Many patients. And a lot more work ahead.

Grateful for the trust, the teamwork and the journey so far.