Can Some Chemotherapy Cycles — Be Given Closer to Home?
Six to eight trips across four months is the reality for many patients from district towns. For some regimens, shared care means certain cycles can be given at a CION centre nearer to you — not all cycles, not all patients, but the conversation is worth having with your oncologist.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Owais Mohammed, Medical Oncologist · Last reviewed September 2026
- CION has 35+ centres — The network spans Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. A centre closer to you may already be equipped for your regimen.
- Not every cycle needs the main centre — First cycles and complex regimens need specialist oversight. Later stable cycles may be different.
- Your oncologist coordinates it — You do not arrange shared care yourself. The treating team at the main centre sets it up with the nearer one.
- Government scheme coverage may travel with you — Aarogyasri (Telangana) and NTR Vaidya Seva (Andhra Pradesh) may cover treatment at empanelled CION centres nearer to you.
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For some patients and some regimens, yes. CION's 35+ centres mean certain later cycles may be given closer to your district town, once your tolerance is established. Your oncologist decides whether this applies to your regimen — it is not available for all patients, and first cycles almost always need the specialist centre.
When can some cycles be given at a nearer centre?
Shared care means part of your treatment is given at a CION centre closer to home while your oncologist at the main centre stays responsible for your plan.
First cycles almost always happen at the main treating centre. That is when your team establishes your tolerance, manages any first-time reaction, and confirms the correct dose.
Later cycles, once your response is stable and your tolerance confirmed, may be suitable for a nearer CION centre — if the regimen allows it and your oncologist agrees. This is the question worth raising at your next appointment.
What should I ask before travelling for every cycle?
- Ask your oncologist directlyIs any part of my regimen suitable for a CION centre closer to home?
- Find the nearest CION centreThe list below covers all centres across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. One may be considerably closer than you realise.
- Confirm your government scheme coverageIn Telangana, check whether the nearer centre is empanelled under Aarogyasri. In Andhra Pradesh, check NTR Vaidya Seva. Verify with the billing team before your first local cycle — do not assume coverage transfers automatically.
- Ask how blood tests work locallyBefore each cycle you will usually need blood results. Ask whether these can be taken at the nearer centre or at a local lab, or whether you still need to travel for bloods even on a local cycle.
- Confirm the nearer centre has your drugNot every CION centre administers every regimen. Confirm that the nearer centre has day-care infusion facilities and is set up for your specific regimen before travelling to 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.
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 does coordination between two centres work?
When shared care is agreed, your oncologist at the main centre stays responsible for your treatment plan. The nearer centre gives the infusion and sends results back.
You do not manage the communication between teams. Your oncologist's office arranges the handover and sends the relevant records to the local centre.
If anything changes — a new symptom, a side effect, or a dose adjustment — your main oncology team needs to know first, even if your next cycle is scheduled locally.
Which cycles need the specialist centre, and which might not?
| Situation | Usually needs specialist centre | May be possible at a nearer CION centre |
|---|---|---|
| First 1–2 cycles | Yes — tolerance, dose, and reaction monitoring | Not usually |
| Previous reaction to the drug | Yes — managing risk needs specialist oversight | No |
| Multi-drug or complex regimen | Yes — coordination across drugs | Ask your oncologist |
| Single-agent, stable, well tolerated | Not always | Often yes — worth asking |
| Dose change or regimen adjustment | Yes | No — return to main centre first |
| Routine maintenance, stable response | Sometimes | Ask your oncologist |
Did you know?
Travel burden is one of the most consistent reasons patients delay or miss chemotherapy cycles.
ASCO guidance on access to cancer care identifies distance to the treating centre as a significant barrier to completing planned treatment in low- and middle-income settings — which is why knowing your nearest feasible option matters.
Source: ASCO: access to cancer care and treatment adherence guidance
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Frequently asked questions
Will my oncologist suggest shared care, or do I have to ask?
You often need to ask. Oncologists focus on the treatment plan; travel logistics are not always part of the conversation unless you raise them. Ask directly at your next appointment: is any part of my regimen suitable for a CION centre closer to home? If you are not sure how to start, the checklist on this page gives you the exact questions to bring.
What if there is no CION centre near my town?
CION has 35+ centres across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, so it is worth checking the full list before assuming the main treating centre is the only option. If the nearest centre still requires a long trip, ask your oncologist whether any part of your treatment — blood tests, review appointments — can be bundled to reduce the number of separate journeys, even if not their distance.
Does shared care cost more?
It should not, if both centres are empanelled under your government scheme. For Telangana patients, that is Aarogyasri; for Andhra Pradesh patients, NTR Vaidya Seva. Ask the billing team at the nearer centre to confirm it is empanelled for your specific scheme and treatment before your first local cycle. Do not assume coverage transfers — verify it explicitly.
Can I ask for shared care partway through my treatment?
Yes. If you have already started at the main centre and are tolerating your regimen well, the question of whether later cycles can transfer is still worth raising. The relevant factor is whether your response and tolerance are established — which they usually are after the first few cycles. Your oncologist is best placed to assess whether the timing works.
What happens in an emergency during a local infusion?
The nearer centre's medical team manages the immediate situation, as in any infusion emergency. They will contact your main oncology team. Before your first local cycle, confirm who to call, and ask your oncologist's team to send your full treatment records and allergy history to the local centre directly — do not rely on carrying paperwork yourself.
Can I have blood tests done at a local lab rather than at a CION centre?
For some regimens, yes. Ask your oncologist whether the specific blood tests needed before your cycle can be done at an accredited local laboratory, with results sent to the centre before your infusion date. Not all regimens allow this — some need results reviewed in person — but for straightforward bloods before a stable cycle it is often possible. Raise it as a separate question from the shared care conversation.
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