Medical Oncologist
How targeted therapy is given
Oral Tablets vs IV Infusion: — What's the Difference?
Targeted therapy can be given as a tablet you take at home every day, or as an infusion through a drip at a clinic. The route your oncologist recommends is determined by the specific drug and your cancer's biology — not by which method is stronger.
Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed August 2026
- Two routes, one goal — Both oral tablets and IV infusions aim to block the specific signals that drive your cancer's growth.
- Route does not mean strength — Neither form is inherently more powerful. The drug and the target it matches are what matter.
- Oral means home treatment — You take a tablet daily at home, attending clinic regularly for monitoring and blood tests.
- IV means clinic visits — You attend a day-care unit for each infusion, scheduled and administered by your oncology team.
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Targeted therapy is given either as a tablet you swallow at home once or twice daily, or as an intravenous infusion through a drip in a clinic. The route is determined by the drug and your cancer type — not by which is more powerful. Both forms aim to block specific signals that make cancer cells grow.
Is an IV drip stronger than a tablet?
No. The route of delivery does not decide how well a targeted therapy works. What decides it is whether the drug matches a specific target found in your cancer cells — and that is established by your biomarker testing, not by whether the medicine arrives through your gut or a vein.
Oral targeted therapies are absorbed through the digestive system and enter the bloodstream the way any medicine taken by mouth does. IV targeted therapies bypass the gut and enter the bloodstream directly through a vein. A drug is formulated one way or the other based on its chemistry — how stable it is as a tablet, and how reliably the body absorbs it.
What the route does affect is your daily routine. An oral drug means a tablet at home, usually taken at the same time each day, with regular clinic visits for monitoring. An IV drug means attending a day-care unit for each infusion on a schedule your oncology team sets for you.
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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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Did you know?
Oral targeted therapies for cancer were rare two decades ago. Today, tablets taken at home are approved treatments for several common cancer types, including certain lung, breast, kidney and blood cancers.
ESMO notes that the growth of oral oncology medicines has meaningfully changed the day-to-day experience of treatment for many patients — while making regular monitoring by the oncology team more important, not less.
Source: ESMO Guidelines: Oral Anticancer Treatments
Explore 119 more Targeted Therapy Basics, Testing & Your Cancer Type topics
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?
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
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
Is a tablet less effective than an IV infusion for targeted therapy?
No. Effectiveness is determined by whether the drug matches the specific molecular target in your cancer — not by how it is delivered. Some of the most established targeted therapies in use today are oral tablets. Your oncologist chooses the form based on which drug is indicated for your cancer type and biomarker result, and that drug's formulation is a chemical decision made long before you were prescribed it.
How often do I need to go to the clinic for IV targeted therapy?
This depends on the specific drug prescribed, because different IV targeted therapies are given on different schedules — some every week, others every two, three or four weeks. Your oncology team will give you a written schedule before you start. At CION, IV targeted therapy is given as day care, so you do not need to be admitted overnight for the infusion itself.
Can I take oral targeted therapy with food?
It depends on the specific drug. Some oral targeted therapies must be taken with food, some on an empty stomach, and some either way. Your pharmacist and oncology team will give you written instructions for your specific medicine. Following those instructions matters — taking the tablet at the wrong time relative to food can change how much of the drug your body actually absorbs.
What happens if I forget to take my tablet one day?
Do not double up to make up for a missed dose unless your oncology team has specifically told you to. Most guidance for oral targeted therapies is to skip the missed dose and take the next one at the usual time. The right answer depends on your specific drug, so keep your team's contact number to hand and call when you are unsure. Missing an occasional dose is less dangerous than taking two at once.
Are the side effects different between oral and IV targeted therapy?
The side effects depend on the specific drug and what target it blocks, not on whether it is oral or IV. Oral and IV targeted therapies can each cause a wide range of side effects, and two drugs in the same class may have quite different profiles. What your oncology team watches for is tied to the known effects of your particular medicine — they will explain which symptoms to report before you start.
Why did my oncologist choose IV instead of a tablet, or the other way around?
The choice is almost always determined by which drug is indicated for your cancer type and biomarker results — and that drug comes in a specific formulation. In practice, it is rarely a free choice between two equivalent options. Some cancer types have only an oral targeted therapy that is indicated; others have only an IV one. If you are uncertain why a particular route was recommended, ask your oncologist which drug was chosen and why — the formulation will follow from that answer.
Can I travel or work normally while on oral targeted therapy?
Many people continue working and travelling while on oral targeted therapy, because the treatment itself happens at home rather than at a clinic. What you do need to plan around is your monitoring schedule — blood tests and oncology reviews happen regularly and cannot be skipped. If you are travelling away from your treating centre, ask your team in advance whether monitoring can be arranged closer to where you will be.
Is oral targeted therapy available at CION?
Your oncologist at CION will prescribe the targeted therapy indicated for your cancer type and biomarker results. Monitoring, blood tests and review appointments are carried out at CION centres. Where IV targeted therapy is indicated, it is administered as day care. Response-assessment imaging such as PET-CT is coordinated with partner imaging centres. CION does not provide CAR-T or cell therapy; if that is being considered for you, your team will refer you to a centre that does.