1800 202 8726
Reducing your travel burden

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.
4.8 · 800+ Google reviews · 15,000+ patients treated
Limited Slots Today

Get this explained properly

₹950   Today: FREE  ·  Including free written second opinion

Reply within 2 working hours
Reviewed by a senior medical oncologist
Confidential. No commitment to start treatment.
or
Call 1800 202 8726
17+
Cancer Specialists
on Panel
96.9%
Breast Cancer
Survival Rate*
15,000+
Patients
Treated
4.8★
Google Rating
(800+ reviews)

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.
12+ Centres in Hyderabad · Pick yours

CION cancer care is closer than you think.

We're never more than 30 minutes away. Same panel of specialists at every centre. Same tumour board reviews. Same NCCN protocols. Pick the closest one and call directly — or let us pick for you.

Not sure which centre fits best? Tell us where you are — we'll suggest the closest one with the right specialists.

Help me pick the right centre

Still unclear?

Send your reports across and a specialist will walk you through what they mean — what is known, what is not, and what the options actually are.

Meet the Specialists

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. Naresh Gundu
Medical Oncologist

Dr. Naresh Gundu

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

View Profile
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
Medical Oncologist

Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy

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

View Profile
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
Medical Oncologist

Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla

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

View Profile
Dr. Owais Mohammed
Medical Oncologist

Dr. Owais Mohammed

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

View Profile
Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy
Medical Oncologist

Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy

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

View Profile
Dr. N. Kiranmayee
Medical Oncologist

Dr. N. Kiranmayee

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

View Profile
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty

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

View Profile
Dr. Raghavendra Naik
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Raghavendra Naik

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

View Profile
Dr. Mohammed  Imaduddin
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Mohammed Imaduddin

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

View Profile
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Vinay Mamidala

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

View Profile
Dr. Paila Gowri Naidu
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Paila Gowri Naidu

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

View Profile
Dr. Venkata Sushma P
Radiation Oncologist

Dr. Venkata Sushma P

MBBS, MD (Radiation Oncology)

View Profile
Dr. Kirti Ranjan Mohanty
Radiation Oncologist

Dr. Kirti Ranjan Mohanty

MBBS, MD (Radiation Oncology)

View Profile
Dr. Gangadhar Vajrala
Radiation Oncologist

Dr. Gangadhar Vajrala

MBBS, MD (Radiation Oncology), MPH

View Profile
Dr. Basudev Pokhrel
Hematologist

Dr. Basudev Pokhrel

MBBS, M.D (Immunohematology & Blood Transfusion)

View Profile
Dr. Mohammed Imran
Interventional Radiologist

Dr. Mohammed Imran

View Profile
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar

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

View Profile
Dr. Sridhar Kamani
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Sridhar Kamani

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

View Profile

Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.

Book Free Consultation

Get a straight answer from a specialist

45 minutes, your reports reviewed, your questions answered in plain language.

Book Free Consultation Call 1800 202 8726

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?

SituationUsually needs specialist centreMay be possible at a nearer CION centre
First 1–2 cyclesYes — tolerance, dose, and reaction monitoringNot usually
Previous reaction to the drugYes — managing risk needs specialist oversightNo
Multi-drug or complex regimenYes — coordination across drugsAsk your oncologist
Single-agent, stable, well toleratedNot alwaysOften yes — worth asking
Dose change or regimen adjustmentYesNo — return to main centre first
Routine maintenance, stable responseSometimesAsk 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

Explore 93 more Chemotherapy in Hyderabad: Cost, Centres & Access topics

HUB — Chemotherapy Cost in Hyderabad

HUB — Chemotherapy in Hyderabad

HUB — Choosing a Chemotherapy Centre and Safe Administration

All Chemotherapy in Hyderabad: Cost, Centres & Access →

Next step

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.

Book Free Consultation Call 1800 202 8726
Common questions

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.

Full index

Browse all 579 chemotherapy topics

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

Before You Start: Tests, Ports & Fertility42
Blood Counts, Infection, Fever & Emergencies73

Anaemia & Low Haemoglobin

HUB — Low Blood Counts, Infection and Fever During Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy and Supportive Medicines by Name75

Chemotherapy Drugs by Name

HUB — Chemotherapy Drugs by Name

HUB — Generic, Branded and Biosimilar Chemotherapy in India

HUB — Supportive Medicines Used With Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy at CION Cancer Clinics1
Chemotherapy by Cancer Type and Special Situations5

Special Populations & Comorbidities

HUB — Chemotherapy in Special Situations

Chemotherapy in Hyderabad: Cost, Centres & Access93

HUB — Choosing a Chemotherapy Centre and Safe Administration

Common Side Effects and How They Are Managed78
Food, Diet, Hydration & Household Safety6
How Chemotherapy Is Given: Regimens, Cycles & Infusion Days85

Other Ways Chemotherapy Is Given

HUB — Cycles, Schedules and What Happens on Infusion Day

Is It Working, Finishing Chemotherapy & Survivorship7

Is It Working? Response & Scans

HUB — Is Chemotherapy Working? Scans and Response

HUB — When Chemotherapy Stops Working

Nerve, Skin, Heart, Kidney and Cognitive Effects5

Skin, Nails & Hand-Foot Syndrome

Heart, Lung & Organ Toxicity

HUB — Effects on the Heart, Kidneys, Liver and Nerves

Understanding Chemotherapy, Myths & Trials97

HUB — Chemotherapy Myths and Alternative Treatment Claims

HUB — Clinical Trials in Cancer Treatment

HUB — What Is Chemotherapy and Why Has It Been Advised?

Work, Family, Relationships and Emotional Support12
Call now Book free consultation