Dr Saifuddin Mullamitha is a Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Christie Hospital in Manchester, the largest single-site cancer centre in Europe. He has dedicated his life to cancer care and research. On World Cancer Day, he shares his life’s journey, what inspired him to pursue this career and what is his approach to cancer care and treatment.
- Can you share a bit about your background and education?
Both my parents were born and brought up in Dahod, Gujarat. As a young adult, my father ventured out to seek more opportunities and a better life for him and his family. I was born in Mumbai and come from a modest but fulfilled background. My parents put great emphasis on the quest for education and whilst my father ran a small business, he encouraged me to become a doctor.
In 1994, I graduated as MBBS from LTM Medical College at Sion Hospital, University of Mumbai. The following year, I secured a postgraduate MD Medicine seat via the All India Entrance Examination (nowadays called NEET). Having completed my MD in 1998, I moved to the UK that same year to pursue higher medical studies.
2. What inspired you to pursue a career specialising in cancer treatment?
From an early age, I always looked up to my mentor, Dr Saifuddin Tunkiwala, and was impressed by his ability to help people in the darkest of times. He was always very humble and held in great esteem in the society. Looking back, I now realise how important it is for our children to have the right role model to whom they can look up to and aspire to excel. Even in this modern age where we have the internet at our fingertips and AI to give us all answers, nothing can replace the personal or human touch that an individual can bring.
During my training years in India and the UK, I worked across a range of fields in medicine and thoroughly enjoyed all of them. However, cancer is one of the most challenging diagnoses for any patient. To stand by these patients during difficult times and be able to give them and their families hope and direction to navigate their journey inspired me to pursue a career in this field.
The complexity of cancer as a disease—its biology, diversity, the challenge of developing effective treatments, and the research potential always keeps us oncologists on our toes. With the rapid advances that we see in science and technology, there has been no better time for someone to pursue oncology.
3. What suggestions do you have for cancer prevention or early detection?
Preventing cancer and promoting early detection require a combination of lifestyle changes, awareness, and regular screenings.
We should also strive to maintain a healthy weight and stay physically active. A diet rich in fiber such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while minimising processed foods and red meat can also lower the risk of several cancers.
Early detection significantly improves outcomes, so it’s vital to participate in recommended cancer screenings. Regular mammograms and cervical smears can identify cancers at earlier, more treatable stages.
Self-awareness is also key—people should monitor their bodies for changes such as unusual lumps, persistent tiredness, or unexplained weight loss. Blood when passing urine or motions or persistent change of bowel habits is a red flag. If you notice anything, consult a doctor promptly.
Often, tests will reveal nothing to worry about and even if something is picked up—it would likely be at a very early and treatable stage. Better safe than sorry, as they say.
4. Can you tell us about any exciting advancements or trends in cancer treatment?
Recent advances in cancer treatment have focused on personalised and targeted therapies that offer greater precision and improved outcomes. Immunotherapy remains one of the most groundbreaking developments, empowering a patient’s own immune system to target cancer cells. This is proving effective in a wide variety of cancers like melanoma, bowel and lung cancers and many others. There have also been enormous strides in surgical and radiotherapy techniques.
Targeted therapies have transformed the landscape of cancer treatment. These treatments work by inhibiting specific pathways or mutations driving cancer cells and have shown remarkable success in prolonging survival.
Together, these innovations represent a shift from one-size-fits-all approaches to more individualised, less invasive treatments, improving both patient outcomes and quality of life. On the other hand, this also means the cost of healthcare has gone very high whereas we need to make treatment more affordable and transparent.
5. What’s your current area of work in the UK?
I specialise in the non-surgical management of early as well as advanced bowel cancer and am involved in national and international clinical trials and am a part of the Training Program for Northwest UK Medical Oncology.
I do believe cancer treatment goes far beyond systemic therapy. The other pillars of cancer management include surgery, radiotherapy and diagnostic or therapeutic imaging. We work in multidisciplinary teams to determine optimum course of action. Medical cancer treatment remains absolutely crucial, but we do have to invest into a holistic approach for our patients and this includes providing psychological support and often access to palliative care to help patients achieve optimum quality of life..
6. How have your values influenced your work in cancer care?
My cultural background as a Dawoodi Bohra has always been a fundamental aspect of my work ethic in dealing with my patients and the wider public as a whole. Our culture and upbringing teaches us to be respectful, honest, resilient and above all—to be kind and compassionate. These are fundamental attributes of a good physician, especially an Oncologist.
Faith and spiritual resilience are indeed vital components in supporting patients through their treatment journey, as they provide a source of hope, strength, and meaning during challenging times. Many patients draw upon their faith to cope with uncertainty, fear, and the emotional toll of illness. Spiritual beliefs can offer comfort and reassurance, helping individuals feel connected to something greater than themselves, which can be particularly grounding in moments of crisis.
Spiritual resilience also helps patients navigate the ups and downs of their treatment by providing an inner reservoir of strength and reminds us to be thankful at all times.
More information regarding cancer care can be obtained from the following sources:
www.cancerresearchuk.org I www.cancer.org