Medical Oncology
Medical oncology: care across the whole Cancer pathway
Medical oncology treats Cancer with medicines: chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and more. I look after patients from screening and diagnosis, through treatment, and into long-term follow-up, for solid tumours and blood Cancers.
In this section
- Screening & preventionScreening advice, vaccination, risk assessment
- Diagnosis & evaluationReviewing pathology and imaging, confirming the stage
- Treatment planningAn individualised, multidisciplinary plan
- Genetic testing & counsellingHereditary risk assessment and family counselling
- Hemato-oncologyLeukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma
Overview: solid tumours & hemato-oncology
I treat a wide range of Cancers including breast, lung, gastrointestinal, gynaecological and blood Cancers, using medical therapies alone or alongside surgery and radiation delivered by other specialists. Every plan is built around the individual: the type and stage of the Cancer, its molecular profile, the person’s overall health, and what matters to them. See Services for the full list of what is covered.
Screening & prevention
- Cancer screening: advice on which screening tests are appropriate based on age, family history and risk factors
- Vaccination: guidance on vaccines relevant to Cancer prevention, such as HPV and hepatitis B
- Risk assessment: reviewing personal and family history to identify people who may benefit from closer monitoring or genetic testing
See Cancer Prevention, Screening & Vaccination for how I decide which tests you need, and which you do not.
Diagnosis & evaluation
Reaching an accurate diagnosis is the foundation of good treatment. This stage includes reviewing biopsy and pathology results, arranging or interpreting imaging (CT, MRI, PET-CT), and confirming the stage (how far the Cancer has spread) so that treatment can be planned correctly. See Cancer Diagnosis & Diagnostic Tests for what each test looks for.
Treatment planning
Cancer treatment is rarely a single drug or procedure. I develop an individualised treatment plan that may combine several approaches, sequenced over time, and reviewed as the situation changes. Where useful, the plan is discussed in a multidisciplinary setting with surgical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology and radiology. See Cancer Treatment Planning for how I define the goal of treatment and decide between the available options.
Genetic testing & counselling
- Hereditary Cancer assessment for people with a strong family history
- Genetic risk evaluation and, where indicated, testing
- Counselling for patients and family members about what results mean
See Precision Oncology for genomic profiling of the tumour itself.
Follow-up & survivorship
Care does not end when active treatment does. Follow-up includes long-term monitoring, a survivorship plan covering physical and emotional recovery, and attention to reducing the risk of recurrence. See Beyond Cancer Treatment for supportive services.
Hemato-oncology (blood Cancers)
I manage haematological malignancies including leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma: using targeted therapy, immunotherapy and chemotherapy as appropriate, with close monitoring throughout.
Common questions
Do I need a referral to see a medical oncologist?
Not always. Many people begin with a general symptom, see a family doctor or physician, and are referred to an oncologist once the tests have been done. That is a common route, but it is not the only one, and you can see an oncologist directly. You can contact Spashta Healthcare, and bringing your biopsy, pathology and imaging reports, where available, helps the first discussion be more useful.
What is the difference between medical, surgical and radiation oncology?
Medical oncology treats Cancer with medicines: chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy. Surgical oncology removes tumours, and radiation oncology uses radiotherapy. Many patients need more than one, and I coordinate with surgical and radiation colleagues as part of the plan.
Will I need chemotherapy for every type of Cancer?
No. The right treatment depends on the type, stage and molecular profile of the Cancer. Some patients need chemotherapy, others targeted therapy or immunotherapy, and many need a combination. I explain the reasoning behind each plan.
How long does treatment planning take?
It depends on how much diagnostic information is already available and whether further tests or a multidisciplinary discussion are needed. I will give you a realistic timeline once I have seen your reports.
How often will I need follow-up after treatment?
Follow-up schedules vary by Cancer type and stage. I set out a monitoring plan, covering check-ups, scans and blood tests, before active treatment ends. See Follow-up & survivorship above.
This page is general information, not medical advice for your situation. The right approach for you depends on a full clinical assessment. Medically reviewed by Dr Sneha Kommineni.
Discuss your diagnosis and treatment plan with me
If you have queries on your diagnosis or treatment plan, and if you need answers, I am happy to help. We can go through your reports and your diagnosis in detail.
Contact Spashta Healthcare · +91 99000 79030