Bhavna D. Padhye is a Pediatric Oncologist who works at Westmead in NSW, Australia. She looks after children who have cancer, along with blood and bone marrow problems that can affect how a child’s body fights infection.
In this role, she helps families deal with tough diagnoses and the day-to-day worries that come with them. That can include conditions like acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and other forms of childhood leukaemia. It can also include tumours such as neuroblastoma and other childhood cancers, plus situations where the bone marrow or blood counts need careful attention.
She also sees children with urgent complications that can’t wait, such as febrile neutropenia. This is when a child has a fever and their white blood cells are low, which makes infections more risky. Over time, she works with families to plan safe next steps, manage symptoms, and support kids during treatment changes.
Her work covers a wide range of problems, including rare conditions that still need expert care. At times that might mean looking after children with tumour types like ganglioneuroblastoma, hepatic haemangioma, or other rare growths that can be hard to understand at first. Some children also come in with issues like hypercalcaemia, where calcium levels need monitoring and treatment. And at times, care involves procedures such as bone marrow aspiration, which helps doctors check what’s going on inside.
When it comes to experience, she has hands-on knowledge of paediatric oncology care, and she’s used to working through complicated cases with calm, practical support. She also keeps up with new treatment options and the latest findings from research, because paediatric cancer care can change as new evidence comes in.
Clinical trials can be part of the conversation in many cases, depending on what a child needs and what options are available. When trials are relevant, she works with the wider team to explain the plan in a clear way and help families weigh up their choices.
Overall, the focus stays on safe care, steady guidance, and making sure each child gets the right treatment and support for their situation.
