Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Where pelvic exenteration should be done | CION Cancer Clinics
Pelvic exenteration should be done at a centre that performs it regularly, with cancer surgeons, urology and plastic surgery teams, intensive care, a blood bank and stoma nurses all under one roof. For many families in Telangana that means travelling to Hyderabad for the operation itself. This page explains which specialists to look for, what to ask at the first visit, and how to move your care from a district hospital. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
MI
Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohammed ImaduddinConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MCh (Surgical Oncology) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- Where should pelvic exenteration be done?
- Which specialists should the centre have?
- What should the hospital have in place?
- How do you get from a district hospital to a specialist centre?
- What do families wrongly believe about choosing a centre?
- What should you ask, and why?
- What can this page not tell you?
- Common questions about where to have exenteration
The short answer
Where should pelvic exenteration be done?
Pelvic exenteration should be done at a centre that performs it regularly, with every team it needs working under one roof. A skilled surgeon alone is not enough. What matters is the whole team, the intensive care unit and the people who look after you for months afterwards.
Why the centre matters so much for this operation
Exenteration removes several organs from the pelvis and rebuilds how urine and stool leave the body. It often involves cancer surgeons, urologists, bowel surgeons and plastic surgeons in the same operation. Complications are common after surgery this large. A team that sees them often recognises them early and knows how to manage them. That is why it is usually done in specialist centres.
What this means for families in Telangana
For many families, it means travelling to Hyderabad or another large city, even if other cancer treatment was given nearer home. Chemotherapy or follow-up visits can often continue closer to where you live. The operation itself is the part worth travelling for.
This page explains what to look for in a centre. It does not tell you whether exenteration is right for you. That is decided with your treating team.Who you need
Which specialists should the centre have?
Ask whether each of these is part of the team that will look after you, not just available somewhere in the city.
Surgical oncologists
Cancer surgeons who plan and lead the operation. Ask how often the team performs exenteration.
Urology and bowel surgeons
They build the new route for urine and, where needed, the colostomy. In some centres the surgical oncologist does this too.
Plastic surgeons
They close the pelvic floor with a flap of tissue, or rebuild the vagina. This matters most after radiotherapy, when wounds heal slowly.
Anaesthesia and intensive care
A long operation needs experienced anaesthetists, and the first days after need a full intensive care unit on site.
Stoma nurses and physiotherapists
They teach you to manage the bags and get you moving again. Ask to meet the stoma nurse before surgery.
Radiology and pathology
Specialist MRI reading decides whether the cancer can be removed. Pathology confirms whether the edges of the removed tissue are clear.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistOn site
What should the hospital have in place?
- A tumour board where surgeons and oncologists review your case together
- An intensive care unit in the same building, staffed round the clock
- A blood bank that can supply large amounts quickly
- Interventional radiology to drain collections without reopening the wound
- A dedicated stoma service, before and after discharge
- A clear number to call, day or night, once you are home
From referral to assessment
How do you get from a district hospital to a specialist centre?
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Gather every report
Scans on disc as well as printed reports, the biopsy report, operation notes and radiotherapy or chemotherapy summaries. Missing papers are the most common cause of delay.
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Ask your doctor for a referral letter
A short letter explaining the treatment so far helps the new team understand your case quickly. It also helps with scheme paperwork.
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Share the reports before travelling
Many centres will look at reports first and tell you whether a visit makes sense. This can save a wasted journey.
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The first assessment
Expect an examination, a review of your scans and perhaps more tests. The team may need to discuss your case at their tumour board before offering surgery.
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Planning the stay
If surgery is offered, plan where a relative will stay, how scheme approval will be handled, and how you will return for follow-up.
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Commonly believed
What do families wrongly believe about choosing a centre?
"Any big hospital can do this operation."
Size and a well-known name do not tell you how often a team performs exenteration. Ask the team directly, and ask who will manage you if something goes wrong at night.
"It is better to stay near home, whatever it takes."
Being close to family matters a great deal. But for this one operation, the experience of the whole team usually matters more. Much of the care before and after can still happen nearer home.
"One famous surgeon is all you need."
The operation depends on several surgical teams, anaesthetists, intensive care staff and stoma nurses. A strong surgeon in a weak system is not the same as a strong team.
"Asking about their experience will offend the surgeon."
Good surgeons expect the question and will answer it plainly. If a team avoids it, that tells you something useful.
At the first visit
What should you ask, and why?
Ask this
Why it matters
How often does this team do exenteration?
Regular practice is linked with safer care
Who operates, and which teams join?
You should know who is responsible for each part
Is intensive care in the same building?
Moving a very ill patient between hospitals adds risk
Who do we call after going home?
Problems often appear after discharge, not before
Being straight with you
What can this page not tell you?
It cannot tell you which hospital to choose, and it does not rank centres. The right centre for you depends on your cancer, your earlier treatment, your cover and how far you can travel.
It cannot tell you whether you need exenteration
Many people referred for this operation are told it is not suitable, because the cancer has spread too far or their general health would make it too dangerous. A good centre will say so clearly and explain the other options, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy or care focused on comfort.
What to do next
Take your reports and your questions to a specialist team for an assessment. If you are unsure about the advice you receive, a second opinion from another experienced team is reasonable, and it is common before surgery of this size.
If you need help working out where to take your reports, call the helpline. One number serves every CION centre.Questions we are asked
Common questions about where to have exenteration
Can pelvic exenteration be done in a district hospital?
It is usually not advisable. The operation needs several surgical teams, a full intensive care unit, a blood bank and stoma care, all available together. Most district hospitals are not set up for that. Treatment before and after surgery can often still be given closer to home, which reduces how much you travel.
How do I know if a centre is experienced enough?
Ask directly how often the team performs exenteration, who operates, and how complications are managed. Ask whether your case will go to a tumour board. A team that answers clearly and explains what it cannot promise is usually a team that has done this many times.
Should I get a second opinion before choosing a centre?
Many families do, and it is reasonable for an operation this large. Take all your scans on disc, the biopsy report and treatment summaries. A second team may agree, suggest a different approach or say surgery is not suitable. Any of these answers helps you decide with more confidence.
Can my reports be reviewed before I travel to Hyderabad?
Often yes. Many centres will look at reports and scan images first and tell you whether an in-person visit makes sense. Call ahead and ask how to send them. This can save a long journey for someone who is already unwell.
Does the centre need to accept my scheme?
If you plan to use Aarogyasri, CGHS, ECHS, EHS or cashless insurance, the hospital must be empanelled for it. Check this before the first visit. Otherwise you may complete the assessment and then find the operation is not covered there.
Is a newer machine or a robot a reason to choose a centre?
Not on its own. For exenteration, the experience of the team, the intensive care unit and the aftercare matter more than any single piece of equipment. If a centre mentions a particular technique, ask whether it suits your case and what difference it makes for you.
Where should follow-up happen after surgery?
Early follow-up is usually with the team that operated, because they know exactly what was done. Later, some checks and scans may be possible closer to home. Ask the surgeon to write a clear summary for your local doctor, and keep a copy yourself.
What if we cannot manage the travel and stay in the city?
Tell the team early. Social workers can sometimes help with low-cost stays near the hospital, and appointments can often be grouped to reduce trips. If surgery is still not practical, ask what other treatment could be given nearer home, and what it would and would not achieve.
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.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
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Accreditation and empanelment
- NABH
- NABL
- ISO 9001:2015
- ArogyaSri empanelled
- CGHS accepted
- ECHS accepted
- EHS accepted
- Major cashless insurers
Paying for it
Insurance, schemes and payment
What you actually pay usually differs a great deal from the sticker figure.
AarogyasriEmpanelled. Bring the card and a referral where you have one.
CGHS / ECHS / EHSAccepted at CION centres for eligible treatment.
Cashless insuranceMost major insurers are empanelled. Pre-authorisation is handled by our desk.
Self-payItemised estimate given before treatment starts. No EMI scheme exists.
Where to find us
Our centres in and around Hyderabad
Addressed by landmark, because that is how this city navigates. A surgical consultation can be booked at any of these centres through one helpline, and your team will tell you where the operation itself takes place.
Warangal
Vizag
Sources
- Cancer Research UK — Pelvic exenteration
- National Cancer Institute — Surgery to treat cancer
- American Cancer Society — Surgery for cervical cancer
- Cancer.Net — Navigating cancer care
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Choosing a Surgeon and a CentreGeneral questions to ask any surgical teamWho Is a Candidate for Exenteration?Whether the operation is likely to be offered at allComplication Rates After Exenteration: The Honest PictureWhy the team and the ICU matter so muchPelvic Exenteration Cost in HyderabadWhat builds the bill, and how cover applies
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