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After your diagnosis

Where to Get Support — After a Cancer Diagnosis

A cancer diagnosis can leave you, and the people around you, not knowing where to turn. Support is available from the moment you receive your result — you do not have to wait for treatment to begin.

Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed September 2026

  • You do not have to wait — Support can start from the day of your diagnosis, not when treatment does.
  • Your family can also be seen — Counselling and peer support is available to carers and family members, not only to patients.
  • Most support is free — Counselling through your cancer centre carries no additional charge in most cases.
  • Stigma is the main barrier — Asking for help is not a sign that you cannot cope — it is how people get through this.
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Counselling, peer support groups, and social work assistance are available in Hyderabad from the time of your diagnosis. Most services at cancer centres carry no additional charge. You do not need to wait until treatment starts — ask your oncologist or nurse to connect you today.

How do you get support after a diagnosis?

  1. Tell your nurse or doctor you want to speak to someone

    You do not need a formal referral at most cancer centres. Telling your oncology nurse is enough to start the process. You can say simply: 'I would like to talk to someone about how I am feeling.'

  2. Meet the oncology social worker or counsellor

    They are trained in cancer-related distress, not general counselling. The first meeting is a conversation about what you are finding hardest, not a formal assessment.

  3. Ask about peer support groups

    Peer groups connect you with people who have faced similar diagnoses. They are usually free, informal, and run regularly. Ask your social worker which groups are currently active near you.

  4. Raise practical concerns as well as emotional ones

    Social workers can also help with financial assistance, transport to appointments, and navigating paperwork. These are as legitimate a reason to ask for help as emotional support.

  5. Return when you need to

    Support is not a single conversation. Your needs will change as treatment progresses. You can ask to see the counsellor again at any point, including after treatment ends.

When is the right time to ask for support?

ExperienceNormal and expectedWorth reaching out this week
Trouble sleepingFirst night or two after diagnosisStill disrupted after a week, or waking with panic most nights
Crying or feeling lowVery common immediately after diagnosisLasting more than two weeks, or making it hard to eat or leave home
Worry about money or workUnderstandable at any pointPreventing you from making decisions about your care
Family stress and argumentsNormal when roles and routines change suddenlyCommunication has broken down, or a family member seems unable to cope
Typically startsAny time after receiving your resultSupport is available from the day of diagnosis — you do not need to reach a crisis first

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Dr. Naresh Gundu
Medical Oncologist

Dr. Naresh Gundu

MBBS, DNB (Internal Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology)

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Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
Medical Oncologist

Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy

MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)

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Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
Medical Oncologist

Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla

MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)

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Dr. Owais Mohammed
Medical Oncologist

Dr. Owais Mohammed

MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)

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Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy
Medical Oncologist

Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy

MBBS, DM (Medical Oncology), MD (Radiation Oncology)

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Dr. N. Kiranmayee
Medical Oncologist

Dr. N. Kiranmayee

MBBS, DM (Medical Oncology), MD (Internal Medicine)

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Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty

MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)

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Dr. Raghavendra Naik
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Raghavendra Naik

MBBS, MS (General Surgery), M.Ch (Surgical Oncology)

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Dr. Mohammed  Imaduddin
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Mohammed Imaduddin

M.B.B.S, MS (General Surgery), M.Ch (Surgical Oncology)

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Dr. Vinay Mamidala
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Vinay Mamidala

MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)

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Dr. Paila Gowri Naidu
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Paila Gowri Naidu

MBBS, MS (General Surgery), M.Ch (Surgical Oncology), FMAS

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Dr. Venkata Sushma P
Radiation Oncologist

Dr. Venkata Sushma P

MBBS, MD (Radiation Oncology)

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Dr. Kirti Ranjan Mohanty
Radiation Oncologist

Dr. Kirti Ranjan Mohanty

MBBS, MD (Radiation Oncology)

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Dr. Gangadhar Vajrala
Radiation Oncologist

Dr. Gangadhar Vajrala

MBBS, MD (Radiation Oncology), MPH

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Dr. Basudev Pokhrel
Hematologist

Dr. Basudev Pokhrel

MBBS, M.D (Immunohematology & Blood Transfusion)

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Dr. Mohammed Imran
Interventional Radiologist

Dr. Mohammed Imran

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Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar

MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology

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Dr. Sridhar Kamani
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Sridhar Kamani

MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology)

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Is support free, or does it cost money?

Counselling and social work provided as part of your cancer care at CION is at no additional charge.

Peer support groups run by patient organisations and NGOs in Hyderabad are generally free to join. Your social worker can give you a current list of what is running near you.

If you choose to see an independent psychologist outside your treating centre, fees vary. Some operate on a sliding scale based on income. Ask your social worker to help you find an option that suits your situation.

Help with the cost of treatment itself — not counselling fees — is a separate matter. Charitable schemes, government programmes, and hospital welfare funds exist for patients who qualify. Ask your social worker directly about what you may be eligible for.

Did you know?

Psychological distress is common at the time of a cancer diagnosis, and it does not reliably resolve on its own without support.

ASCO and ESMO both recommend that distress be assessed at key points along the care pathway — including at the point of diagnosis itself.

Source: ASCO and ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines on Psycho-Oncology and Supportive Care

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of support are available for cancer patients in Hyderabad?

Several types exist: oncology counsellors based at cancer centres, oncology social workers who help with both emotional and practical concerns, peer support groups run by patient organisations, and community or religious networks. CION centres have social work and counselling available to patients during their care. For peer groups specifically, ask your social worker which are currently active near you — availability changes over time and depends on your location.

Can my family members or carer get support too?

Yes, and they often need it as much as the person who was diagnosed. Carers and close family members frequently carry their own distress — anxiety, exhaustion, uncertainty — without anywhere to put it. Ask your oncology social worker whether family members can be seen separately or together with you. Many peer support groups also welcome carers, not only patients.

Will asking for a counsellor make my doctor think I cannot cope?

No. Asking for psychological support is something your oncology team expects and welcomes. Oncologists and nurses who work in cancer care know that emotional support makes treatment easier to complete. It does not affect how your cancer is treated and it does not reflect badly in your care record. If anything, people who use support services tend to manage treatment better — your team knows this.

How is an oncology counsellor different from a regular psychologist?

An oncology counsellor is trained specifically in the distress patterns that come with a cancer diagnosis — fear of treatment, grief about changes to the body, uncertainty, and the strain on relationships. A general psychologist may not have that specific context. At a cancer centre, the counsellor works alongside your medical team and understands what is happening in your treatment, which makes the conversations more relevant to where you actually are.

What if I cannot travel to the centre for counselling?

Some counsellors offer telephone or video sessions, particularly for follow-up appointments. Ask your treating team or social worker what is available at your centre. Several patient groups in Hyderabad also run online peer sessions you can join from home. If travel is the barrier — because of distance, physical condition, or cost — tell your social worker. Transport assistance and home visits may be available depending on your situation.

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