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    Frequently Asked Questions

    How to Get an Appointment?

    To schedule an appointment, please contact our appointment desk. Our team will help you book a convenient time for your consultation.

    Yes, appointments can be rescheduled or canceled. Please inform our appointment desk in advance to help us accommodate other patients.

    Monday to Saturday: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

    People suffering from stomach cancer experience symptoms like abdominal pain, loss of appetite, disinterest in eating (dyspepsia), non-specific abdominal symptoms like bloating, feeling full after eating less than usual, and weight loss. Most of them delay their presentation since these symptoms are mistaken for those of peptic ‘ulcer’. If these symptoms persist for more than 2 weeks, prompt evaluation is needed.

    We offer advanced imaging, biopsy, molecular profiling, and genetic testing to ensure precise diagnosis.

    Yes. We provide genetic counseling and testing for hereditary cancers such as breast, ovarian, colon, and endometrial cancers. This helps identify individuals at higher risk and guide preventive strategies.

    We provide chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy coordination, hormonal therapy, and CAR-T cell therapy through partner centers.

    Yes, patients can book an in-person second-opinion consultation with our oncologists.

    Each case is reviewed by a multidisciplinary tumor board including medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists.

    The initial investigation to evaluate these symptoms is an endoscopy (OGD scopy/ upper GI endoscopy). In cases where a suspicious finding is seen in an endoscopy, a biopsy is done on the abnormal area. If the biopsy shows evidence of cancer, staging scans are done. As per the investigations, the patients are broadly divided into early stomach cancer, locally advanced, and those who have disease that has spread to other organs.

    Early Stomach Cancer:
    Surgery is the key and the first treatment for early stomach cancers. Surgery involves the removal of a segment of the stomach/ entire stomach, depending on the location and extent of the tumour. Along with the segment of the stomach that is removed, draining lymph nodes are also removed. The surgical oncologist participates actively in pre-operative assessment, optimisation for surgery, and post-operative recovery. Depending on the final pathology report, which will also summarise the stage, medical oncologists will decide the need for chemotherapy.

    Stomach cancer that has spread to regional lymph nodes or has penetrated enough into the thickness of the stomach, as seen by a CT scan, is grouped as loco- regionally advanced cancer. Chemotherapy is the first line of treatment in such a scenario. Before chemotherapy is initiated, a laparoscopy to look into the abdomen to look at the possibility of hidden disease is initially undertaken before starting chemotherapy. This is important to accurately stage the disease. The surgery for cancer is usually sandwiched between the chemotherapy schedules, or it can be done after the completion of the entire chemotherapy schedule.

    Surgery in the case of metastatic cancer has an extremely thin role. It is usually offered in situations like bleeding, obstruction, or a perforation (hole) in the stomach, where other resorts have either failed or are not feasible.
    A small subset of patients with limited localised peritoneal disease with stomach cancer can be considered for curative treatment in special scenarios after discussion in the multidisciplinary tumour board.

    Endometrial cancer is a type of uterine cancer that involves the lining of the uterus (called the endometrium). In a person who has not yet been through menopause, the endometrium thickens every month in preparation for a possible pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the endometrial lining is shed during the menstrual period. After menopause (when menstrual periods stop), the endometrial lining normally stops growing and shedding. In people who have endometrial cancer, the uterine lining develops abnormal cells. Endometrial cancer can occur at any age, although it is much more common in people who have been through menopause.

    Ovarian cancer happens when normal cells in the ovary change into abnormal cells and grow out of control. Initially, the tumour stays confined to the ovary of origin. When the disease advances, it can spread to the other ovary or the organs in the pelvis (which is termed stage II). Further spread to the organs in the abdomen constitutes stage III disease. Most patients present with stage III disease.
    What are the symptoms?
    The patients may just experience fullness in the abdomen in the early stages. As the tumour grows, distension increases, and the abdomen will feel bigger and bloated. Some may experience pain in the abdomen. They have a feeling of fullness, especially after eating. Many patients have an urge to urinate frequently.

    After your doctor elicits the history of symptoms and performs a clinical examination, if there is a suspicion of ovarian cancer, he or she will request scans and blood investigations. The scans create images of what is inside the body and can find abnormal lumps or growths. Blood investigations like CA 125 aid in the diagnosis. A normal level does not completely rule out the presence of cancer.

    When the imaging suggests early cancer, surgery is performed, with the aim of the surgery being both to diagnose cancer and to accurately assess the extent and stage of the disease. In advanced cancer, a biopsy is done under the guidance of an ultrasound or CT scan to remove some cells from the tumour to study under the microscope. After the diagnosis is confirmed, patients are started on chemotherapy, following which surgery is performed.

    In advanced cancers, the surgery that is performed is also called cytoreductive surgery (CRS) since it aims to remove all the disease-bearing areas in the abdomen. Studies have proven that the efficacy of the surgery is improved when it is combined with chemotherapy that is instilled into the abdomen during the surgery or immediately after the surgery. This is termed intra-peritoenal (IP) chemotherapy. This can be given during surgery, when it is termed HIPEC, or given immediately after surgery, when it is termed EPIC.
    What happens after treatment?
    After the completion of treatment, patients are advised to undergo periodic follow-up, which includes clinical examinations, blood investigations, and, if needed, scans.

    The cervix is the lower part of the uterus. When normal cells transform into abnormal cells, cancer develops. The most common symptom is bleeding from the vagina, which can happen in between the menstrual cycles, after sex, or after menopause.

    The majority of cervical cancers are associated with HPV (Human Papilloma Virus). HPV is transmitted by skin contact. By preventing HPV infections, the incidence of cervical cancer can be significantly reduced. Vaccination against HPV reduces infections and thus decreases the formation of cervical cancer.

    A pap smear, where the cells in the cervix are collected by a swab by a simple OPD procedure and examined under a microscope, can diagnose cervical cancer / pre-cancer in a vast majority of cases. The same can be used to diagnose HPV infection, which, when present, may indicate a high risk of future cancer development. Patients are stratified into low, moderate, and high risk groups based on this test and are advised to either follow up or undergo additional tests to detect the presence of cancer.

    Many patients with kidney cancer may not have symptoms until they have grown considerably. The cancers in these situations are diagnosed incidentally by scans, which are done for other reasons. A proportion of these patients may experience vague symptoms like low grade fever, not feeling well, lethargy/ tiredness. A small percentage of these patients may witness blood in the urine, pain in the kidney region (upper back on the sides of the spine), or, rarely, a lump in the abdomen.

    When your doctor suspects kidney cancer, or, more commonly, to evaluate your symptoms, you may be asked to do an ultrasound of the abdomen or a CT scan of the abdomen. If a mass in the kidney is seen in ultrasound, a CT scan may give further details about the extent of the disease.

    A cancer diagnosis is almost always made only from a biopsy (seeing the cancer cells under a microscope). Kidney cancer is an exception; the scans are accurate enough to diagnose cancer in most of the instances. Biopsy is done only in a few instances, When there is doubt

    What should I bring for my first consultation?

    Please bring all previous medical records, investigation reports (like scans, blood tests, and biopsy results), and a list of current medications. This helps your doctor assess your case accurately.

    While a referral can be helpful, it is not mandatory. You can directly schedule an appointment with our oncology team.

    Appointments are generally available within a few working days. However, priority is given to patients requiring urgent evaluation.

    We provide diagnosis and treatment for all major cancers including breast, lung, liver, colon, prostate, gynecologic, head & neck, hematologic (blood cancers), and rare tumors.

    No referral is needed. You can book an appointment directly by phone or through our online form.

    Yes. We often continue or optimize ongoing treatments for patients who have relocated or wish to consult for therapy guidance or side-effect management.

    Absolutely. We emphasize comprehensive pain and symptom control using medications, nerve blocks, and supportive therapies to ensure comfort and dignity.

    Yes, we provide emotional and psychological support for patients and caregivers.

    Our team provides customized nutrition and wellness plans to support recovery.

    Please bring previous medical records, biopsy or histopathology reports, scan results, current medications, and insurance details if applicable. This helps us plan your consultation efficiently.

    Patients with colon cancer may not experience many symptoms in the early stages of the disease. They may experience generalised abdominal discomfort and indigestion. Most of them seek medical attention when they witness a drastic loss of weight, difficulty in bowel movements (constipation), or blood in the stools.
    The above symptoms warrant investigations like a CT scan of the abdomen and a colonoscopy. A diagnosis is made by a biopsy obtained during a colonoscopy. After the diagnosis is confirmed, staging CT scan/ PET CT is done. Most colon cancer patients receive surgery as their first line of treatment.

    Surgery for colon cancer involves the removal of a segment of the colon along with the draining lymph nodes. After resection, a new joint is made between the residual ends of the colon. The surgical oncologist will discuss with you the various methods of performing the surgery- open vs. laparoscopic vs. robotic surgery. The pros and cons will be discussed. The main advantages of laparoscopic surgery are the small incision, less pain, fast recovery, and early discharge.

    The last part of the large bowel is the rectum. Most often, the cancers in this part cause symptoms earlier as compared to the colon cancers. People may experience constipation, a constant urge to pass motion frequently and urgently, blood in the motion, constipation, and a change in the frequency and nature of motion. More often, these symptoms are mistaken for the common diagnosis of piles (haemorrhoids), where home based remedies/ over the counter medications are tried long before they are presented to the oncologist. The importance of early evaluation and diagnosis cannot be overemphasised.
    Patients diagnosed with rectal cancer are further evaluated with MRI scans and imaging of the liver and lungs. Patients with early cancer are taken up for surgery immediately. Patients with advanced cancer need radiation/ chemoradiation before surgery.

    Abdomino perineal resection: When the tumour is located in the lower part of the rectum/ or involves the anal canal, your surgical oncologist may advise surgery that involves the removal of the rectum, anal canal, lymph nodes, and permanent stoma (bringing the bowel out of the abdomen as a bag). Anterior resection: When the lower border of the tumor is located above a certain level, surgery can avoid creating a permanent stoma. In such scenarios, the creation of a temporary stoma may be needed. Usually, such stomas are closed after a short interval.

    People with esophageal cancer present with difficulty swallowing initially on a solid diet. They may experience a feeling of food getting stuck to the throat. As symptoms progress, there will be a reduction in food intake and eventually a loss of appetite.
    Diagnosis is made by an upper GI endoscopy (commonly referred to as an endoscopy). A biopsy is done during the same. A staging scan/ PET CT is done to evaluate the extent of disease in the oesophagus, its spread to adjacent nodes, and its spread to distant organs like the liver and lungs. Patients with very early disease undergo surgery as the first and sole treatment. Patients with bulky disease in the oesophagus or evidence of involvement of nodes undergo chemotherapy/ chemotherapy + radiotherapy before surgery.

    Surgery involves the removal of the oesophagus in total or in part, along with the removal of lymph nodes. After the food pipe is removed, it needs to be replaced. The most common replacement is the stomach. The stomach is fashioned into a tube, and a new joint is made on either side to ensure the continuity of the bowel. This is almost always accompanied by the creation of an alternate feeding method (feeding jejunostomy) to ensure a continuous supply of nutrition. This surgery can be done either by the open method or minimally invasive (VATS + Laparoscopy/ Robotic surgery). Minimally invasive surgery imparts a greater benefit of less blood loss, less pain, and significantly reduced lung infections. Your surgical oncologist will discuss the surgery, possible risks, the course after surgery in the hospital and after discharge, and the necessary change in lifestyle afterwards.

    Most lung cancers are diagnosed at a later stage since patients fail to recognise early symptoms that mimic those of chronic underlying conditions (COPD) like cough. Many of these patients suffer from COPD due to the common aetiology (cause) i.e smoking. When the nature of the cough changes, sputum is blood stained, when cough fails to resolve with medications, investigation is warranted to identify underlying cause which may be a cancer. X-rays of the chest may be sufficient in those scenarios, but it may miss the diagnosis, in which case a CT scan of the chest will be needed to make the diagnosis. The next step would be to obtain the tissue for diagnosis. It may be obtained by a CT guided biopsy/ bronchoscopy. Once a diagnosis is made, a PET CT and MRI scan of the brain are done to evaluate the spread of the cancer.

    For early lung cancer, surgery remains the main treatment. Lungs are divided into parts - right lung has 3 parts (lobes) and the left lung has 2 main parts (lobes) from the surgery point of view. Surgery traditionally involves the removal of the entire lobe of lung along with the removal of the lymph nodes inside the chest.

    Similar to laparoscopic surgery, surgeries in the chest can be performed by key holes and are called Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS). VATS surgery benefits the patients by considerably diminishing the pain that they experience after the surgery. This translates into better lung function and henceforth a reduction in lung infection. Lung infections cause significant morbidity after lung surgery since they reduce the amount of lung that participates in oxygenating the body and hence may compromise the breathing mechanism in addition to the loss of a part of the lung (which is removed during the surgery). Patients may need oxygen supplementation or at times, ventilator (machine to assist in breathing), which might add on to the morbidity, length of hospital stay, ICU stay and the total cost of the hospitalisation. VATS surgery, by reducing the pain and promoting better breathing mechanisms, will avert such complications.
    VATS lung and chest surgery hence involves small incisions, fast recovery and less lung complications.

    When patients present with the above-mentioned symptoms, a relevant clinical examination is carried out. As part of the examination, the cervix and the vagina are inspected. This may reveal the presence of an ulcer, lump, or growth in the cervix. If any abnormality is detected, a biopsy from that site is carried out. Also, a pap smear is taken for cytological and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) checks. Sampling from the inside of the uterus is also done in certain situations. The definitive diagnosis is made by the examination of these cells under a microscope.

    Once the diagnosis is made, the surgical oncologist might advise investigations to evaluate the extent of the disease in the cervix, the lymph nodes surrounding the cervix, and other organs like the liver and lungs. The extent of the disease in the cervix is usually determined by a proper clinical examination. This is supplemented by an MRI scan of the pelvis, which can show the extent of the spread of the disease to adjacent organs and lymph nodes.

    Your oncologist will provide details about the extent of the disease and the modalities of treatment, namely surgery, radiation, and/or systemic therapy. Surgery is performed for those with early-stage disease. If patients are diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer, then systemic therapy and radiation are offered. Your oncologists will discuss the pros and cons of various treatments.

    Conventional surgery for cervical cancer involves the removal of the uterus, tubes, ovaries, and lymph nodes inside the pelvis. The tissues surrounding the cervix are also removed during the surgery.