Medical Oncologist
Before you start
Before You Start Targeted Therapy: — The Complete Preparation Checklist
Targeted therapy is usually a daily tablet you take at home rather than an infusion in a clinic. That means preparation — and much of the ongoing management — is largely your responsibility. Doing it carefully before day one makes the first weeks significantly easier.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed August 2026
- Starts before day one — Preparation begins in the weeks before your first dose, not on the morning you start.
- Most are oral tablets — Targeted drugs are usually taken at home each day — knowing exactly how and when is on you.
- Drug interactions matter — Some common medicines and herbal products can change how your targeted drug works in your body.
- You manage most side effects at home — Knowing which symptoms to watch for — and when to call your team — reduces a great deal of anxiety.
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Preparing for targeted therapy means confirming your mutation result, listing every medicine and supplement you take, completing baseline blood tests, discussing contraception if relevant, and learning exactly how to take your drug at home. Most of this happens before your first dose, at a pre-treatment appointment with your oncologist.
How do you prepare for targeted therapy, step by step?
Confirm your biomarker result
Ask your oncologist which mutation or marker was found and which drug has been chosen to target it. Ask for the result in writing if you do not already have a copy. This confirms your treatment is matched to your tumour's specific biology, not just the cancer type.
List every medicine, supplement, and herbal remedy you take
Bring a complete list to your pre-treatment appointment. Include over-the-counter painkillers, vitamins, protein powders, and anything herbal or Ayurvedic. Many commonly used products interact with targeted drugs in ways that reduce their effectiveness or raise the risk of side effects.
Complete your baseline tests
Your team will order blood tests and possibly an ECG or liver function tests before you start. These establish your starting numbers so that any change during treatment can be measured against them. Complete these before your first dose.
Discuss contraception if you are of childbearing age
If you are of childbearing age — or your partner is — raise this with your oncologist before treatment starts. Most targeted agents carry a risk to a developing baby. Your team will advise on the right approach for your situation.
Learn exactly how to take your medicine
Ask whether to take it with food or on an empty stomach, at what time of day, and what to do if you miss a dose or vomit shortly after taking it. These details vary by drug. Getting them right from the start matters more than it might seem.
Ask when your first response scan will be
Confirm the date and type of your first assessment scan before you leave your pre-treatment appointment. Knowing what the plan is reduces uncertainty through the first weeks of treatment.
Why is preparing for targeted therapy different from preparing for chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is usually given by infusion in a clinic, where nurses manage the dose and the timing. Most targeted therapies are daily tablets you take at home, which means the schedule, the storage, and recognising side effects early are largely your responsibility.
Drug interactions are a more significant concern with targeted therapy. Some foods — grapefruit in particular — and many herbal and Ayurvedic products can affect the level of targeted drug in your blood. Your team needs to know about everything you take, not just prescription medicines.
Side effects also follow a different pattern. Rather than the predictable dip-and-recovery around chemotherapy cycles, targeted therapy side effects often include skin changes, diarrhoea, and fatigue that can appear in the first few weeks and need their own approach to manage.
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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
Interventional Radiologist
Dr. Mohammed Imran
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
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What does your team arrange, and what do you arrange yourself?
| Preparation | Who arranges it | When it needs to happen |
|---|---|---|
| Biomarker test result | Your oncologist orders it; you ask for a printed copy | Already done — confirm before starting |
| Complete medicine and supplement list | You write it; your team reviews it | Bring to your pre-treatment appointment |
| Baseline blood tests and ECG | Your team orders them | Before your first dose |
| Contraception discussion | You raise it; your team advises | Before treatment starts |
| Dosing and storage instructions | Your team gives them at your pre-treatment visit | Before you take your first tablet home |
| First response-assessment scan | Your team books it | Confirm the date at your pre-treatment appointment |
What to bring to your pre-treatment appointment
- A written list of every medicine, supplement, vitamin, and herbal or Ayurvedic product you take
- Your biomarker test report, or a written note of which mutation was found and which drug was chosen
- Any previous scan reports your oncologist may not already have
- A list of questions — especially about how and when to take your medicine and what side effects to watch for
- A family member or trusted person who can help you remember what is said
- Confirmation of your contact details so your team can reach you between visits
What should you expect in your first few weeks on targeted therapy?
The first few weeks are a settling-in period. Your team will be watching for early side effects and may adjust your dose if needed. You do not need to wait for your next scheduled appointment to report something — most teams want to hear about new or worsening symptoms early, while the options are still straightforward.
Skin changes, fatigue, loose stools, and mouth soreness are among the more common early effects, though which you experience depends on the drug. Your team will tell you which to watch for and what your threshold for calling should be.
Keep a brief daily note of how you feel and any changes you notice. It makes your appointments more useful and helps your team spot patterns they would otherwise miss.
Explore 119 more Targeted Therapy Basics, Testing & Your Cancer Type topics
Before You Start - Preparation & Baseline
- 25 Questions to Ask Your Oncologist Before Starting Targeted Therapy
- Before You Start Targeted Therapy: The Complete Preparation Checklist
- Dental Check-Up Before Cancer Treatment: Why It Matters
- Financial Planning Before Starting Long-Term Targeted Therapy
- How Long After Surgery Can You Start Targeted Therapy?
- How to Store Your Targeted Therapy Tablets Correctly
- Setting Up a Dosing Routine You Won't Forget
- Should Targeted Therapy Be Taken With Food or on an Empty Stomach?
- Vaccinations Before and During Cancer Treatment
- What to Expect in Your First Month on Targeted Therapy
- Which Baseline Tests Are Done Before Starting a TKI?
- Which of Your Existing Medicines Must Stop Before Targeted Therapy
- Why You Need an ECHO and ECG Before Certain Cancer Drugs
Biomarker & Molecular Testing
- Can Mutation Testing Be Done on an Old Biopsy Block or Slides?
- Cost of NGS and Mutation Testing in India: 2026 Price Guide
- Do I Need Genetic Testing Before Starting Targeted Therapy?
- Germline vs Somatic Testing: The Difference Nobody Explains Properly
- Getting a Second Opinion on Your Genomic Report
- How Long Do Mutation Test Results Take in India? Realistic Timelines
- How to Read Your Molecular Pathology Report, Line by Line
- IHC, FISH, PCR or NGS: Which Mutation Test Is Right for Your Cancer?
- Is Mutation Testing Worth It If I Can't Afford the Drug?
- Liquid Biopsy vs Tissue Biopsy: Which Test Do You Need?
- My Report Says a Mutation Is 'Actionable': What Does That Mean?
- No Mutation Found in My Report: What Are My Options Now?
- Should I Start Chemotherapy While Waiting for Mutation Results?
- Should You Repeat Molecular Testing After Your Cancer Progresses?
- Single-Gene Test or Full Panel? How to Choose Without Wasting Money
- What Are PD-L1, TMB and MSI, and Do They Affect Targeted Therapy?
- What Does 'Variant of Uncertain Significance' (VUS) Mean?
- What Happens If There Isn't Enough Tissue for Mutation Testing?
- What Is NGS (Next-Generation Sequencing) Testing in Cancer?
- What Is a Molecular Tumour Board and Why Should You Want One?
- Which Cancers Should Always Be Tested for Mutations? A Checklist
- ctDNA and MRD Testing: Tracking Cancer Through a Blood Test
Cancer-Type Specific Targeted Therapy
- CML Treatment with TKIs: Living a Normal Life Span
- Cancer of Unknown Primary: Can Molecular Testing Help?
- GIST Treatment: Why This Cancer Changed Targeted Therapy Forever
- Targeted Therapy for Bile Duct Cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma)
- Targeted Therapy for Bladder and Urothelial Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Brain Tumours and Glioma
- Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer: HER2, HR+ and Triple Negative
- Targeted Therapy for CLL and Lymphoma
- Targeted Therapy for Cervical and Endometrial Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Childhood Cancers
- Targeted Therapy for Colorectal Cancer: RAS, BRAF and HER2
- Targeted Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Kidney Cancer (RCC)
- Targeted Therapy for Liver Cancer (HCC)
- Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer: Every Mutation and Drug Explained
- Targeted Therapy for Melanoma: BRAF and MEK Inhibitors
- Targeted Therapy for Multiple Myeloma
- Targeted Therapy for Neuroendocrine Tumours
- Targeted Therapy for Ovarian Cancer: PARP Inhibitors and Beyond
- Targeted Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer: Limited but Real Options
- Targeted Therapy for Prostate Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Sarcoma
- Targeted Therapy for Stomach and Gastroesophageal Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Thyroid Cancer
- Targeted Therapy in AML: Beyond Standard Chemotherapy
- Tumour-Agnostic Drugs: When the Mutation Matters More Than the Organ
Foundations & How Targeted Therapy Works
- Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Targeted Therapy: Treatment Before or After Surgery
- Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs): The Smart Bombs of Cancer Treatment
- Biosimilars and Generic Targeted Therapy Drugs: What They Are
- Can Targeted Therapy Be Combined with Chemotherapy or Radiation?
- Can Targeted Therapy Cure Cancer? An Honest Answer
- First-Line, Second-Line and Beyond: How Treatment Lines Work
- How Doctors Decide Between Chemo, Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy
- How Does Targeted Therapy Actually Work? Explained Without Jargon
- How Long Does Targeted Therapy Take to Start Working?
- Is Targeted Therapy Painful? What the Treatment Actually Feels Like
- Is Targeted Therapy a Type of Chemotherapy? Clearing Up the Confusion
- Oral Tablets vs IV Infusion Targeted Therapy: What's the Difference?
- Precision Oncology vs Personalised Medicine: Are They the Same Thing?
- Targeted Therapy Success Rates: What the Numbers Really Mean
- Targeted Therapy for Stage 4 Cancer: What You Can Realistically Expect
- Targeted Therapy vs Chemotherapy: 12 Differences That Actually Matter
- Targeted Therapy vs Immunotherapy: Which One Is Right for You?
- The 8 Main Types of Targeted Therapy Drugs (With Examples)
- What Do Cancer Drug Endings Like -nib, -mab and -tinib Mean?
- What Is Targeted Therapy for Cancer? A Complete Patient Guide
- Which Cancers Can Be Treated with Targeted Therapy? Full List
- Why Didn't My Doctor Recommend Targeted Therapy for Me?
Mutation & Target-Specific Pages
- ALK-Positive Lung Cancer: Drugs, Response and What Comes Next
- Antiangiogenic Drugs (VEGF Inhibitors): How Starving a Tumour Works
- BCR-ABL and the Philadelphia Chromosome in CML
- BRAF V600E Mutation: Targeted Therapy Across Multiple Cancers
- BRCA vs HRD Testing: Which One Determines PARP Inhibitor Eligibility?
- BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Cancer Treatment: PARP Inhibitors
- BTK Inhibitors in CLL and Lymphoma
- CD20, CD38 and Other Antibody Targets in Blood Cancers
- CDK4/6 Inhibitors in Hormone-Positive Breast Cancer
- Co-Mutations: When You Have Two Mutations at Once
- EGFR Exon 20 Insertion: Why It's Different and Harder to Treat
- EGFR Mutation in Lung Cancer: Complete Patient Guide
- ESR1 Mutation: Why Your Hormone Therapy Stopped Working
- FGFR Alterations in Bladder and Bile Duct Cancer
- FLT3 Mutation in AML: What It Means for Your Prognosis
- HER2 Mutation in Lung and Gastric Cancer
- HER2-Low Breast Cancer: A New Category That Changes Treatment
- HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: The Full Targeted Therapy Roadmap
- IDH1 and IDH2 Mutations in Glioma, AML and Bile Duct Cancer
- KIT and PDGFRA Mutations in GIST
- KRAS G12C Mutation: The Target That Was Undruggable for 40 Years
- KRAS Mutation but Not G12C: What Are My Options?
- MET Exon 14 Skipping and MET Amplification Explained
- MSI-High and Mismatch Repair Deficiency: Testing and Treatment
- NRG1, MET, RET and Other Rare Fusions: Where to Get Tested
- NTRK Fusion: One Drug for Many Different Cancers
- Osimertinib: What to Expect, Side Effects and How Long It Works
- PALB2, ATM and Other BRCA-Like Genes: Do They Get the Same Drugs?
- PIK3CA Mutation in Breast Cancer: Alpelisib and What to Expect
- PSMA and AR-Targeted Therapy in Prostate Cancer
- RET Fusion Cancer: Lung, Thyroid and Beyond
- ROS1-Positive Cancer: A Rare Mutation with Excellent Options
- TP53 Mutation: Why There's Still No Targeted Drug for It
- Understanding Variant Allele Frequency (VAF) in Your Report
- What If My Mutation Has No Approved Drug Yet?
- mTOR Inhibitors in Cancer: Everolimus and Temsirolimus
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I miss a dose of my targeted therapy?
The answer depends on the specific drug, and your team will give you instructions for your particular medicine before you start. As a general principle, do not double up on the next dose to make up for a missed one without checking first — for some drugs this is harmful. Write the missed-dose instructions down when your team gives them, because this is exactly the kind of detail that is hard to remember under stress.
Are there foods I should avoid during targeted therapy?
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are the most commonly restricted food for people on targeted therapy, because they interfere with the enzyme that breaks down many of these drugs. Whether other food restrictions apply depends on your specific medicine. Ask your oncologist or pharmacist for a list relevant to your drug rather than a general one, so you are not avoiding foods unnecessarily.
Do I need to tell my GP or family doctor that I am starting targeted therapy?
Yes. Your GP may prescribe other medicines or make decisions about your care that they would handle differently knowing you are on targeted therapy. Ask your oncologist for a summary letter you can share. If your GP prescribes anything new while you are on treatment, ask them to check for interactions with your targeted drug before dispensing.
How should I store my targeted therapy tablets at home?
Storage instructions vary by drug — some need to be kept in a cool, dry place away from sunlight; others have more specific requirements. Your pharmacist will give you the instructions for your particular medicine when it is dispensed. Follow those instructions exactly rather than assuming all tablets are stored the same way, and keep them out of reach of children.
Is targeted therapy given as day care at CION?
Most targeted therapies are oral medicines you take at home each day, so there is no infusion appointment the way there is with chemotherapy. Some targeted agents — particularly certain monoclonal antibodies — are given by infusion; your CION team would arrange this through the day-care unit if that applies to you. For oral treatment, your CION team manages your care through pre-treatment appointments, monitoring blood tests, and response scans coordinated with partner imaging centres.