Your Written — Chemotherapy Treatment Plan
Before your first chemotherapy infusion, you should have a document you can read, carry and question. Most people do not know they can ask for one — and most centres will give it to you if you do.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Owais Mohammed, Medical Oncologist · Last reviewed September 2026
- You are entitled to ask — Any oncology centre should be able to give you a written plan before treatment begins.
- It names every drug — A proper plan lists each drug by its full generic name, the intended dose, and how many cycles are planned.
- It includes the cost — Knowing the estimated cost per cycle lets your family plan finances before the bills arrive.
- It protects you anywhere — If you travel, change centres or need emergency care, another team can continue your treatment safely.
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You are entitled to ask for a written chemotherapy plan before your first infusion. It should name the regimen, each drug, the cycle schedule, and the estimated cost. A written plan is the single document that lets you check, carry, and question what you are being given.
Are you entitled to a written treatment plan?
Yes. Your oncologist is responsible for giving you enough information to make an informed decision about your treatment. A written plan is the clearest way to show that has happened. Ask for it at your planning appointment, before your first infusion.
A verbal conversation in a busy clinic is not the same thing. You cannot look back at what was said, share it with your family, or carry it to another centre if something changes.
Ask before treatment begins, not on the day of your first infusion. The day you sit in the chair is not the moment to be absorbing new information for the first time.
What should your written chemotherapy plan contain?
- The name of your regimen — for example FOLFOX, AC-T, or carboplatin-paclitaxel
- Each drug by its full generic name
- The intended dose for each drug
- How many cycles are planned and how often each cycle runs
- Which side effects to watch for and who to call
- The estimated cost per cycle and the total estimated cost
- Your treating oncologist's name and your case manager's contact number
What difference does a written plan actually make?
| Situation | With a written plan | Without one |
|---|---|---|
| Getting a second opinion | Another oncologist can review the exact regimen and doses immediately | They must request records and wait for transfer |
| Changing centres or travelling | Any team can continue your care without delay | Your next centre must reconstruct your history from memory and partial notes |
| Emergency care | Emergency doctors know your regimen and what you have already received | They treat you with incomplete information about what drugs are in your body |
| Family involvement | Family members can read and understand the plan themselves | They rely on your recollection of a clinic conversation |
| Cost planning | You can plan finances by cycle before the bill arrives | Costs come as a surprise at each visit |
| Spotting errors | You can verify what is being drawn up matches what you agreed to | You are relying on memory from a previous appointment |
Where to find us
Our centres in and around Hyderabad
Addressed by landmark, because that is how this city navigates. Each centre also names the areas it serves, so you can place it without a map. Consultation and day-care Chemotherapy run at every one of them.
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
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. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
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How do you ask for a written plan?
At your pre-treatment appointment, say: 'Can I have a written copy of my treatment plan with the drug names, cycle schedule and estimated costs?' That is all it takes.
If you are told it is not possible, ask what document covers those points. A discharge summary, a treatment card, or a pharmacy dispensing record can each carry part of this information — and some of it is better than none.
At CION, treatment plans are discussed with you before your first infusion. Your case manager is the right person to ask for the written version.
Did you know?
ASCO and NCCN patient safety standards both name written chemotherapy treatment plans as a core protection against medication error — the most common class of preventable harm in oncology.
Asking for yours is not unusual. It is the norm in well-resourced cancer centres around the world.
Source: ASCO Standards for Safe Chemotherapy Administration; NCCN Chemotherapy Order Templates
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Still not sure what applies to you?
Send your reports across and a senior medical oncologist will go through what they mean, what is known, and what the options actually are.
Frequently asked questions
Does my oncologist have to give me a written treatment plan?
There is no single law in India that compels every centre to hand you a printed plan. What your oncologist is obliged to do under medical ethics and ICMR guidance is give you enough information to give informed consent — and a written plan is the clearest way to show that has happened. Most centres will provide one if asked. If yours cannot, ask for the pharmacy dispensing record or the nursing administration sheet, which carry much of the same information.
My treatment has already started. Is it too late to ask for a written plan?
No. You can ask at any point for a written summary of what you have had so far — drugs given, cycles completed, any dose adjustments made — and what is planned for the remaining cycles. Ask your oncologist or case manager for a treatment summary. This is especially important if you are considering a second opinion or moving to a different centre.
What if my plan is only in English and I cannot read it?
Ask for the key points to be explained in Telugu or Hindi. The document itself can stay in English — what matters is that someone on your team walks through the drug names, cycle dates and costs with you in a language you understand. The English version is what you carry to another centre if needed. Writing the drug names and important dates in your preferred language alongside it is a practical step many families take.
Should I bring my written plan to every chemotherapy appointment?
Yes. Bring the original and keep a photograph of it on your phone. At every appointment your team checks what you have received and what is due — having the plan with you speeds that process and reduces the chance of miscommunication. If anything on the plan changes, ask your team to update the document and explain the reason for the change.
What should the cost section of the plan actually show?
It should show the estimated cost per cycle, the number of cycles planned, and a total estimated cost, labelled as indicative. Actual costs can vary because blood test results, additional medicines, and dose adjustments all affect the final figure. No centre can guarantee the exact total, but an estimate by cycle is a reasonable thing to ask for. It lets your family plan month by month rather than being surprised at each visit.
Can I use my written plan to get a second opinion?
Yes, and this is one of the most valuable things it does. A second oncologist reviewing your case needs the regimen name, each drug, the intended doses, and the rationale. With a written plan you can share that information directly, without waiting for records to be transferred between centres. Ask the second-opinion oncologist what additional documents they need — your treatment plan is the starting point.
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