- Specialty Peritoneal Mesothelioma
- Procedure Cytoreduction With HIPEC
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Jupiter Medical Center Physician Group
1240 S. Old Dixie Highway
Jupiter, FL 33458
Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin, DO, MPH
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Doctor
Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin is a surgical oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal cancers, including peritoneal mesothelioma, peritoneal carcinomatosis, and colon and rectal cancers. His relaxed and compassionate demeanor helps his patients trust his multidisciplinary approach to care.
or call (866) 608-8933
Overview
or call (866) 608-8933
About Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin
Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin is a medical oncologist and the medical director of the Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology Program at Jupiter Medical Center.
He studies, diagnoses, and treats a variety of gastrointestinal cancers, most notably mesothelioma which affects the peritoneum (abdominal lining).
Dr. Bhagwandin is dedicated to equipping his patients with the health literacy they need to advocate for themselves. He believes in a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment.
Having multiple experts treat the patient is crucial because of the many ways the disease can present and spread through the body.
“A subtle distinction between surgical oncologists and other surgical specialties is our underlying training in oncology that marries the technical feasibility with an understanding of the biology of the disease.”
One of Dr. Bhagwandin’s specializations is cytoreduction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for peritoneal mesothelioma.
Cytoreduction is the process of surgically removing as much of the visible tumor from the abdomen as possible. It’s then followed by HIPEC — a heated chemotherapy cocktail added directly to the abdominal cavity after surgery so the drugs can kill cancerous cells that may have been left behind.
Cytoreduction with HIPEC has been shown to greatly improve the life expectancies of peritoneal mesothelioma patients, with many living for 5-10 years or more after this treatment.
Dr. Bhagwandin’s Career Highlights
Dr. Bhagwandin has dedicated his career to treating gastrointestinal cancers, including peritoneal mesothelioma. He is currently the only surgical oncologist trained to treat peritoneal mesothelioma at Jupiter Medical Center, where he administers hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).
Dr. Bhagwandin’s Background
Dr. Bhagwandin obtained his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania. He then completed his internship at the Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.
From there, Dr. Bhagwandin moved to the University of Illinois at Chicago for his residency, followed by a fellowship at the Ichan School of Medicine. He is a former assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine Department of Surgery.
Dr. Bhagwandin is board-certified in both general surgery and complex general surgical oncology.
“Variety is one of the primary reasons I was attracted to my specialty. On any given day, we perform a liver or pancreatic resection or an extremity sarcoma excision or deliver heated chemotherapy into the abdomen for advanced peritoneal malignancies.”
Dr. Bhagwandin is a member of several professional organizations, including:
- American College of Surgery (ACS)
- Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA)
- Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO)
Dr. Bhagwandin’s Current Work
Dr. Bhagwandin currently treats patients at Jupiter Medical Center in Florida. Because this hospital partners with highly skilled surgeons, it has twice been listed as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Gastrointestinal Care and America’s 100 Best Hospitals for General Surgery.
Like many surgical oncologists, Dr. Bhagwandin’s work involves partnerships with other specialists and experts within the medical center’s oncology program.
“My interests and training are solidified by the collaborative relationships we have with multiple specialties, such as medical oncology, radiation oncology, and therapeutic interventional radiologists.
Through this complex approach to oncology care, I am challenged by the patients referred to us following a devastatingly new diagnosis of cancer with hopes of a cure.”
Learn more about how specialists like Dr. Bhagwandin work to treat mesothelioma in our free guide, shipped right to you overnight.
Dr. Bhagwandin’s Healing Philosophy
Dr. Bhagwandin believes that surgical oncologists should be informative and comforting to their patients, which is why he strives to be kind and nonjudgmental with every patient he treats.
He considers this approach to be especially important when first meeting patients who have been diagnosed with cancer.
“When patients are referred to a surgical oncologist, there has been very little opportunity for them to accept a recent cancer diagnosis.
The denial, the rationalization of blame — compounded by any attempt to explain to their loved ones what may be going on — is only about to become even more complicated.
I firmly believe it’s important to take a step back, recognize there is a person in front of you, and address any obvious misconceptions before proceeding.”
He takes his time to carefully discuss how aggressive mesothelioma is and which treatments he feels would be best.
Depending on the conversation with the individual patient, they may decide it’s better to start with chemotherapy or radiation to shrink the tumor or kill cells that have split off before undergoing surgery. Alternatively, they may choose to start with cytoreduction with HIPEC.
Mesothelioma Hope has no affiliation with and is not endorsed or sponsored by Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin, DO, MPH. Any contact information listed is for informational purposes only. You have the right to contact Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin, DO, MPH directly.
Written by:Laura WrightLaura Wright is a journalist and content strategist with more than 15 years of professional experience. She attended college at the University of Florida, graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2008. Her writing has been featured in The Gainesville Sun and other regional publications throughout Florida.
