Cancer Treatment in Chennai — A Resource Guide toUnderstanding Your Options

Cancer Treatment Is Not One Thing — It Is a Combination of Choices

When someone says "cancer treatment in Chennai," they could mean surgery, chemotherapy,

radiotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or — most commonly — a combination of

several of these delivered in a specific sequence. Understanding which combination applies to a

particular cancer, and why, is often the most confusing part of a new diagnosis.

This guide, prepared with input from Dr. Vimalathithan, Senior Consultant and Clinical Lead in

Surgical Oncology, breaks down the major categories of cancer treatment available in Chennai

today, explains how they are typically combined, and outlines what patients should expect at

each stage.

The Five Main Categories of Cancer Treatment

1. Surgical Treatment

For the majority of solid tumour cancers — breast, colorectal, thyroid, gastric, gynaecological,

and others — surgery remains the primary and most decisive treatment. The goal of cancer

surgery is complete removal of the tumour with clear margins, along with appropriate lymph

node assessment for staging.

Available in Chennai: Open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and robotic-assisted surgery — with

robotic technique offering faster recovery for eligible patients through smaller incisions and

greater surgical precision.

2. Chemotherapy

Systemic drug treatment that circulates through the bloodstream to destroy cancer cells

throughout the body. Used before surgery (neoadjuvant, to shrink a tumour), after surgery

(adjuvant, to eliminate microscopic residual disease), or as the primary treatment for cancers

that have spread widely.

Delivery in Chennai: Available through medical oncology departments at major hospitals,

typically administered in day-care chemotherapy units over multiple cycles spaced several

weeks apart.

3. Radiation Therapy (Radiotherapy)

Uses targeted high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells in a specific area. Commonly

combined with surgery for breast cancer, rectal cancer, and head and neck cancers — either to

shrink a tumour before surgery or to eliminate remaining cells afterward.

Available in Chennai: Modern techniques including IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation

Therapy) and IGRT (Image-Guided Radiation Therapy) allow precise targeting while minimising

damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

4. Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy

Newer treatment categories that work differently from traditional chemotherapy. Targeted

therapy attacks specific molecular features of cancer cells. Immunotherapy activates the body's

own immune system to fight cancer. Both are increasingly used for specific cancer types and

genetic profiles, often in combination with surgery or chemotherapy.

Availability in Chennai: Access has expanded significantly in recent years, though suitability

depends heavily on specific tumour testing and genetic markers.

5. Advanced Regional Therapies — HIPEC and PIPAC

For cancers that have spread specifically to the peritoneal cavity — the lining of the abdomen —

specialised treatments combine surgery with regional chemotherapy delivered directly into the

abdominal cavity.

Dr. Vimalathithan performs both HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy) and

PIPAC (Pressurised Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy) at Gleneagles Fortis Hospital,

Perumbakkam — treatments offered at only a small number of centres in Tamil Nadu.

How Treatment Sequence Is Decided

The order in which these treatments are used — and whether all of them are needed —

depends on several factors reviewed together:

Cancer type and location — Different cancers respond differently to each treatment category.

Stage at diagnosis — Early-stage cancers may require surgery alone. Advanced-stage

cancers often require a combination of treatments.

Tumour biology and genetic markers — Increasingly, molecular testing of the tumour itself

determines whether targeted therapy or immunotherapy will be effective.

Patient fitness and preferences — Overall health, age, and personal priorities all factor into

the treatment plan.

This decision is not made by a single doctor in isolation — the standard of care is a

multidisciplinary tumour board review, where surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation

oncology, radiology, and pathology specialists jointly determine the most appropriate treatment

sequence for each patient.

Cancer Treatment by Type — A Quick Reference

Breast Cancer — Surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy) is central, often combined with

radiotherapy for breast-conserving surgery, and chemotherapy or hormone therapy depending

on receptor status.

Colorectal Cancer — Surgical resection is standard. Rectal cancer often requires

chemoradiotherapy before surgery. Chemotherapy follows for higher-stage disease.

Thyroid Cancer — Surgery (thyroidectomy) is primary treatment, typically followed by

radioactive iodine therapy for differentiated thyroid cancers.

Gastric Cancer — Surgery combined with perioperative chemotherapy (before and after

surgery) is standard for locally advanced disease.

Gynaecological Cancers — Surgery (hysterectomy, debulking) combined with chemotherapy

and, in selected cases, radiotherapy, depending on cancer type and stage.

Peritoneal Cancers — Cytoreductive surgery combined with HIPEC or PIPAC, often alongside

systemic chemotherapy before or after the procedure.

Where to Access Comprehensive Cancer Treatment in Chennai

Comprehensive, multidisciplinary cancer treatment — spanning surgical oncology, robotic

surgery, and advanced regional therapies — is available at Gleneagles Fortis Hospital,

Perumbakkam, under the surgical oncology practice of Dr. Vimalathithan, Senior Consultant

and Clinical Lead, holding MS, MRCS (UK), M.Ch in Surgical Oncology, DNB, FMAS, FAIS, and

FICRS in Robotic Surgery.

An evening consultation option with Dr. Vimalathithan is also available at Curie Hospital, offering additional accessibility for patients across Chennai.

Questions Worth Asking at Any Cancer Treatment Consultation

● What is my exact cancer type and stage?

● What treatment sequence is being recommended, and why this order?

● Is surgery the primary treatment, or will it follow chemotherapy or radiotherapy?

● Has my case been reviewed by a multidisciplinary tumour board?

● Are there minimally invasive or robotic surgical options for my specific cancer?

● What does the complete treatment timeline look like, from diagnosis to follow-up?

A clear, complete answer to each of these questions is a reasonable expectation from any cancer treatment consultation in Chennai.

Patient Experience

With over 900 Google reviews and a 5.0-star average rating, patients treated by Dr. Vimalathithan consistently describe clear explanation of treatment options, coordinated multidisciplinary planning, and accessible follow-up support throughout their treatment journey.

Book Your Cancer Treatment Consultation in Chennai

📞 099628 66666

📍 Gleneagles Fortis Hospital, Perumbakkam, Sholinganallur, Chennai 600119

🌐 www.oncospecialist.com

🕒 Morning: Gleneagles Fortis Hospital | Evening: Practising in Curie Hospital