Frequently asked questions

Call or WhatsApp +91 97909 16750, or use the booking form on the Contact page — it opens a pre-filled WhatsApp message so the clinic team can confirm a slot with you directly.

Consultations and surgery are mainly at Iswarya Cancer Centre (Mon–Sat, where walk-in patients are also seen), Swasam Clinic and Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute (by prior appointment), all in Chennai. He also visits and operates at other hospitals and clinics in and around Chennai — if none of the main centres is convenient, call and a consultation will be arranged nearer to you.

Yes. Second opinions are welcome, whether or not treatment has already started elsewhere. Bring your reports, scans (on CD or film), biopsy or histopathology slides and any discharge summaries so the case can be reviewed properly.

A photo ID, previous prescriptions, all scan reports and images, biopsy or pathology reports and blood test results. A list of your current medicines and any drug allergies is very helpful, and it is best to bring a family member with you.

A first consultation usually takes 20 to 30 minutes so there is time to review your reports, examine you and explain the options without rushing. Complex cases may take longer.

Most major health insurance and cashless plans are accepted at the hospitals where surgery is performed. The hospital insurance desk handles pre-authorisation; share your policy details in advance so approval can be started early.

Yes. Post-operative concerns — fever, bleeding, wound problems, uncontrolled pain — should be reported straight away by phone or WhatsApp. For an emergency, go to the nearest hospital emergency department first and inform the clinic afterwards.

No. A biopsy is the only reliable way to confirm whether a lump is cancer and what type it is, and it is essential for planning treatment. The long-standing fear that a needle biopsy spreads cancer is not supported by evidence; modern techniques are designed specifically to avoid it.

No. Some cancers are treated primarily with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal or targeted therapy, and some need a combination given in a particular order. The plan is decided case by case, usually after discussion with medical and radiation oncologists.

It means your reports are discussed by surgical, medical and radiation oncologists together with radiologists and pathologists, so the recommendation you receive reflects several specialists' opinions rather than one.

Not necessarily. Many patients are suitable for breast conservation or oncoplastic surgery, which removes the tumour with a safe margin while preserving shape. Where mastectomy is needed, reconstruction options can be discussed. Suitability depends on tumour size, location and stage.

Chemotherapy, radiotherapy or targeted therapy given before surgery to shrink a tumour. It can make an operation smaller or more likely to preserve an organ, and it shows how the tumour responds to treatment.

HIPEC is heated chemotherapy delivered into the abdomen at the end of cytoreductive surgery for cancers that have spread to the lining of the abdomen — for example from ovary, colon, appendix or stomach. It is a major procedure and is offered only to carefully selected patients after detailed assessment.

It depends on the operation. Small day-care or keyhole procedures may allow a return to routine within one to two weeks; major abdominal or thoracic surgery generally needs four to eight weeks, with a graded return to activity. Your discharge plan will give timelines specific to you.

Most cancers are not inherited, but a minority are linked to inherited gene changes such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 in breast and ovarian cancer, or Lynch syndrome in colorectal cancer. If cancer occurred young or in several close relatives, genetic counselling and testing may be advised for you and your family.

Follow-up is typically every three to six months for the first two to three years, then less often, with clinical examination and scans or blood tests as required for your cancer type. Follow-up is for detecting recurrence early and for managing side effects.

Yes. Stopping tobacco and alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, regular moderate exercise and a balanced diet improve treatment tolerance, recovery and long-term outcomes. They support — never replace — medical treatment.