How to Choose a — Chemotherapy Centre
The name above the door is not what keeps you safe during chemotherapy. The trained nurse at your side, the oncologist within reach, and the protocol for when something goes wrong — those are what matter.
Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Trained staff, not just a well-known name — A chemotherapy nurse must administer your infusion. A general ward nurse without oncology training cannot respond to a reaction the same way.
- Oncologist proximity — A medical oncologist should be on site during your infusion — or reachable within minutes, not just by phone from another building.
- A reaction protocol you can verify — Ask what the unit does if you react during infusion. A good centre has a specific, practised answer.
- After-hours contact that actually works — Side effects happen at home. The centre should have a number you can call at night, answered by someone with oncology knowledge.
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The most important criteria are not brand or size — they are whether a medical oncologist is on site during your infusion, whether the unit has a clear reaction protocol, and whether you can reach your team after hours. A centre that answers all three well is safer than a larger centre that cannot.
What should I ask when I visit a chemotherapy centre?
- Ask whether the infusion unit is dedicated to oncology or shared with general medicine patients
- Ask whether a chemotherapy-trained nurse administers your drug — not a general nurse rotated into oncology
- Ask what the unit does if you have a reaction during infusion — expect a specific, practised answer
- Ask whether a medical oncologist is on site during treatment hours or reachable within minutes
- Call the after-hours contact number before your first cycle to confirm it is answered by someone with oncology knowledge
- Ask whether the pharmacy prepares your drug fresh on the day and how long the gap between preparation and administration typically is
What actually makes a chemotherapy unit safe?
The answer is almost never the name or size of the hospital. It is what happens inside the infusion room — who is at your side, who is within reach, and what the unit does when something goes wrong.
A trained chemotherapy nurse must be the person administering your drug. Not a general nurse who covers oncology on rotation. This distinction matters most in the first minutes of a new drug, when reactions are most likely to appear.
A medical oncologist should be on site during your treatment hours, or reachable within minutes. And the unit should have a protocol for reactions — not an improvised response, but a practised one, with the medicines available to act on it.
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.
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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)
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MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
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How do I know if the answers I get are good enough?
A good answer to any of these questions is specific and confident. 'We have a trained oncology nurse at the chair throughout your infusion' is a good answer. 'We follow standard protocols' is not.
The after-hours number is the most practical test. Call it before your first cycle. If no one answers, or the person who does cannot advise on a chemotherapy side effect, that is your answer.
A centre that welcomes these questions and answers them clearly is demonstrating a standard. One that deflects or seems surprised is showing you something too.
How do I compare two chemotherapy centres?
| Criterion | Why it matters | How to verify it |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated oncology infusion unit | Nursing focus stays on oncology; reduces cross-infection risk | Ask at registration whether the infusion area is oncology-only |
| Chemotherapy-trained nurse at the chair | Reactions need an immediate skilled response from someone who recognises what they are seeing | Ask the unit coordinator what oncology training the infusion nurses hold |
| Medical oncologist on site during treatment hours | Clinical decisions during a reaction cannot wait | Ask whether an oncologist is physically present, not just on call |
| After-hours contact answered by oncology staff | Most side effects appear at home, not in the unit | Call the number before your first cycle to confirm it is answered |
| Pharmacy prepares the drug fresh on the day | Timing affects safety and efficacy for some drugs | Ask what the typical gap is between preparation and administration |
Did you know?
ASCO and the Oncology Nursing Society jointly specify that chemotherapy should be administered by a nurse with demonstrated competency in oncology — not simply any nurse available on the ward.
That distinction matters most in the first minutes of a new drug, when most infusion reactions occur.
Source: ASCO/ONS Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards
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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 the size of the hospital matter for chemotherapy safety?
Size is not the right measure. What matters is whether the infusion unit is staffed by trained oncology nurses, whether a medical oncologist is reachable during your treatment, and whether the unit has a clear reaction protocol. A large general hospital may not have all three. A dedicated oncology centre might. Ask the specific questions rather than forming an impression from the building's scale or reputation.
Is day care chemotherapy as safe as being admitted to a ward?
For most regimens, yes — when the unit is properly staffed and equipped. ASCO and ESMO guidance supports day care delivery for a wide range of protocols. The safety depends on trained nursing presence during infusion and a reliable after-hours contact, not on whether you stay overnight. Ask your oncologist whether your specific regimen is one where day care is appropriate for you.
What happens if I have a reaction during the infusion?
A trained nurse and a clear protocol make a reaction manageable. Most reactions can be treated on the spot when the right medicines are on hand and the right people are present. Before your first cycle, ask what the unit does when a reaction occurs — what medicines they keep available, who makes the clinical decision, and what happens next. A unit with a clear, confident answer is demonstrably safer than one that improvises.
Should I choose a centre close to home or travel to a larger one?
If two centres meet the safety criteria equally, the closer one is usually better over the duration of treatment. Chemotherapy involves repeated visits — blood tests, cycle reviews, side effect management — and travel fatigue compounds treatment fatigue over months. Ask whether monitoring tests can be coordinated at a centre near your home, even if infusions take place at a centre with a particular specialist or facility you need.
How do I know whether the nurses are properly trained in chemotherapy?
Ask directly. A nurse trained in chemotherapy administration will typically hold a recognised oncology nursing qualification and will work in a dedicated oncology unit rather than rotating across departments. Ask the unit coordinator what the nurses' chemotherapy training is and when they last completed competency assessment. A centre that answers without hesitation is likely to take it seriously. One that deflects is telling you something.
Does CION meet these criteria?
Chemotherapy at CION is given as day care in dedicated oncology units, administered by nurses trained in chemotherapy, with a medical oncologist available during treatment hours. CION operates 35 or more centres across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The locations listed above show the centres near you. Your treating team can tell you the specific staffing and protocols at the centre they are recommending for your care.
Chemotherapy Topics
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