Fear of chemotherapy side effects is one of the most common concerns I hear — and it is a fair concern that deserves a direct answer. Side effects depend significantly on the specific drug protocol, your overall health, and the cancer type. Not all chemotherapy causes severe nausea, hair loss or fatigue — these vary widely by regimen. Before we begin any treatment, I spend time explaining exactly what protocol I am recommending, which side effects are common, which are rare, and how we manage each. You should never start chemotherapy without understanding what to expect. If anything is unclear after our consultation, ask again.

These are three different ways of treating cancer systemically. Chemotherapy uses drugs that kill rapidly dividing cells throughout the body — it is effective but affects healthy dividing cells too, which causes most side effects. Targeted therapy uses drugs designed to block specific proteins or mutations in cancer cells — more precise, generally fewer systemic side effects. Immunotherapy activates the body’s own immune system to attack cancer — it has transformed outcomes in several cancer types including lung and melanoma. Which approach is right for you depends entirely on your cancer type, its molecular profile, the stage and your overall health. I explain all options at the consultation.

Leukaemia treatment depends on the type — acute or chronic, and the specific subtype. Acute leukaemia typically requires prompt treatment with chemotherapy, sometimes followed by bone marrow transplant. Chronic leukaemia may be managed with targeted oral agents that keep the disease controlled for years. The landscape of leukaemia treatment has changed dramatically in the last decade — targeted therapies have replaced or supplemented traditional chemotherapy in many subtypes with significantly better outcomes. I will review your diagnosis, bone marrow biopsy and cytogenetic results at the consultation and explain the recommended approach.

Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy is a Consultant Medical Oncologist and Hemato-Oncologist at CION Cancer Clinics, Hyderabad, experienced in treating leukaemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers. He is available at multiple CION locations across Hyderabad. Contact +91 9063490160.

Yes. Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy at CION Cancer Clinics, Hyderabad, is experienced in the medical oncology management of bone and soft tissue sarcomas including chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Contact +91 9063490160 to book a consultation.

Targeted therapy for breast cancer uses drugs designed to attack specific proteins present in the cancer. For HER2-positive breast cancers, drugs like trastuzumab and pertuzumab block the HER2 receptor. For hormone receptor-positive cancers, CDK4/6 inhibitors combined with hormone therapy have significantly improved outcomes. The decision to use targeted therapy depends on the tumour’s molecular profile — established through pathology testing at diagnosis. Dr. Raghavendra reviews the pathology report and molecular data at the initial consultation.

Immunotherapy — specifically checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab and nivolumab — has become standard treatment for several cancer types including lung cancer, melanoma, certain head and neck cancers and triple-negative breast cancer. It works by removing inhibitory signals that cancer cells use to hide from the immune system. Not all patients or all cancers respond to immunotherapy — response is influenced by biomarkers like PD-L1 expression and tumour mutational burden, which are tested before treatment is recommended.

The number of chemotherapy cycles depends on the cancer type, the protocol selected and your response to treatment. Most protocols involve 4 to 8 cycles given over weeks to months. Some are given before surgery (neoadjuvant), some after (adjuvant), and some are given continuously for metastatic disease. I explain the full proposed protocol at the consultation — including the number of cycles, frequency, administration method and expected response milestones. You should not begin chemotherapy without this information.

Most health insurance policies in India cover cancer treatment including chemotherapy under hospitalisation or day-care benefits. Coverage for newer targeted therapy and immunotherapy agents varies by policy. At CION Cancer Clinics, the patient support team assists with insurance pre-authorisation. I recommend checking your specific policy for cancer treatment coverage and sub-limits before the consultation. Our team at +91 9063490160 can help navigate this.

Haemato-oncology is the branch of oncology concerned with cancers arising from the blood and bone marrow — including leukaemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes and related blood disorders. A haemato-oncologist manages these conditions using chemotherapy, targeted oral agents, immunotherapy and in appropriate cases coordinates with transplant teams for bone marrow transplantation. Dr. Raghavendra’s practice includes both solid tumour medical oncology and haematological malignancies.