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Understanding Your — Treatment Options

A diagnosis confirms your cancer. Now the question is which treatment, in what order, and why. The answer depends on your specific pathology — and it is decided by a team, not by a single test result.

Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed September 2026

  • Four main pathways — Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy can each be the right choice — or work in combination.
  • The plan comes from your biopsy — Your pathology report, cancer stage, and overall health all shape what is recommended.
  • A team reviews your case — Most centres use a tumour board — specialists from several disciplines who review cases together before any plan is finalised.
  • You have a say — You can ask questions, request a second opinion, and be part of the decision before treatment begins.
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After a cancer diagnosis, treatment falls into four main types: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Most people receive a combination. Your oncologist — usually alongside a multidisciplinary tumour board — decides the plan based on your cancer type, stage, and overall health. The decision is guided by your pathology report, not one factor alone.

What are the main treatment options?

Surgery removes the tumour or the affected tissue. It is the primary approach for many solid tumours when the cancer is localised and the area can be safely reached.

Radiation uses focused energy to destroy cancer cells. It can be given before surgery to shrink a tumour, after surgery to reduce the chance of return, or as the main treatment when surgery is not possible.

Chemotherapy uses medicine — given through a drip or as a tablet — to affect cancer cells throughout the body. It is used when the cancer has spread, or when the risk of spread is considered high.

Immunotherapy helps your own immune system identify and act against the cancer. It is not suitable for every patient. Eligibility depends on specific markers found in your tumour tissue — your team will test for these before recommending it.

How is the treatment plan decided?

  1. Biopsy result confirmed

    The pathologist confirms the cancer type and grade from your biopsy sample. This is the foundation of every decision that follows. No plan is made before this result is ready.

  2. Staging is completed

    Imaging — typically a CT scan, MRI, or PET-CT — shows where the cancer is and whether it has spread. The stage determines whether local treatment, systemic treatment, or both are needed.

  3. Tumour board reviews your case

    A group of specialists — surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, radiologist, and pathologist — reviews your case together. Their combined view informs the recommendation.

  4. Plan is discussed with you

    Your oncologist explains what is recommended, what to expect from it, and what the alternatives are. This is when you ask your questions. Nothing starts without your agreement.

  5. Treatment begins

    The first appointment is scheduled. Whether you attend as a day patient, stay overnight, or come for short outpatient sessions depends on which treatment is starting.

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Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.

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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Can you choose your treatment?

You can ask questions about any part of the plan — what the goal is, what effects to expect, and whether alternatives exist. Your oncologist expects these questions and should answer them clearly.

You can ask for a second opinion. This rarely delays treatment by a meaningful amount, and it can give you confidence that the plan is right for you.

Some aspects of the plan are fixed by what the evidence supports for your specific cancer. Others — such as timing or sequencing — may have more flexibility. Ask about both.

Did you know?

NCCN, ASCO and ESMO all recommend that complex cancer cases be reviewed by a multidisciplinary team before treatment begins.

Getting that review before the first treatment — rather than discovering it was skipped later — is one of the things most likely to change what is recommended.

Source: NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology; ASCO Quality Oncology Practice Initiative

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What if my oncologist recommends surgery but I have heard that immunotherapy works better?

Surgery and immunotherapy are not alternatives in most situations. For many solid cancers, surgery addresses the primary tumour and immunotherapy — where it is indicated — addresses systemic risk. Whether one, both, or neither applies to you depends on your pathology and stage, not on general coverage of either treatment. Ask your oncologist what your tumour profile specifically shows, and what that means for your options.

How long does it take to get a treatment plan?

It varies by cancer type and how much additional testing is needed. Once your biopsy result is back and staging is complete, a tumour board can usually review your case and have a plan ready within days of that review. If you feel the process is moving slowly, ask your team for a clear timeline. Knowing what to expect is not an unreasonable request.

What is a tumour board?

A tumour board — also called a multidisciplinary team or MDT — is a group of specialists who review your case together before the treatment plan is finalised. It typically includes a surgeon, a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, a radiologist, and a pathologist. The aim is for several expert perspectives to inform the plan before you start, rather than one doctor deciding alone.

Can I refuse a recommended treatment?

Yes. You can decline any recommended treatment and discuss what the alternatives are. Your oncologist will explain what the evidence shows for each option and what the risks of different approaches are. A clear conversation is more useful than a silent refusal — your team can only work with what they know about your situation and your concerns.

What should I ask at my treatment planning appointment?

Ask four things: what the goal of this treatment is, what effects you are likely to notice and when, what the plan is if the first approach does not respond as expected, and who to call if something worries you between appointments. Write the answers down. These conversations are hard to remember accurately under stress, and the answers matter.

Full index

Browse all 701 biopsy topics

Every page in this section, grouped by the part of the journey it belongs to. Pick a group to see what is in it.

What Is a Biopsy?

What Is a Biopsy? Everything You Need to Know →

Types of Biopsy Compared

Which Biopsy Will You Have? Techniques Compared →

Preparing for a Biopsy

What to Expect on the Day of Your Biopsy →

Recovery and Aftercare

After a Biopsy: Recovery, Aftercare and Warning Signs →

Biopsy by Body Part

Biopsy by Body Part: What to Expect at Each Site →

Understanding Your Report

How to Read a Biopsy Report: Terms Explained →

IHC and Molecular Markers

IHC and Molecular Markers on a Biopsy: What They Mean →

Grading and Scoring Systems

Cytology & Prostate Scoring Systems Explained →

How Accurate Is a Biopsy?

How Accurate Is a Biopsy? Errors and Second Opinions →

If Your Result Is Benign

Your Biopsy Is Benign: What It Means and What Comes Next →

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