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Before Travel
Understand the medical plan first.
- Contact CTI and tell us the diagnosis and the question you need answered.
- Share the relevant medical records as advised by our team.
- Clarify whether travel to India is likely to add value.
- Where possible, understand the likely treatment pathway, expected duration and an estimated hospital cost.
- If travel is appropriate, Apollo International Patient Services can assist with visa and logistical planning.
You do not need to repeat every investigation simply because you are travelling to India. Existing tissue or cell test results (pathology), scans and tests for genetic changes or other cancer features (molecular tests) should be reviewed first whenever appropriate.
Arrival in India
Confirm the diagnosis and treatment plan efficiently.
- Apollo International Patient Services can assist with arrival, accommodation and interpreter arrangements where applicable.
- Your CTI oncologist reviews your medical history, examines you and confirms which further tests are needed.
- Pathology, imaging or molecular results may be reviewed if this could alter treatment.
- Where appropriate, your diagnosis, stage and treatment options are prepared for discussion by a multidisciplinary team (MDT), a group of specialists who plan care together.
The initial plan or cost estimate may change if important new clinical information becomes available after examination or further testing.
During Treatment
Your treatment begins with a multidisciplinary plan.
- Where appropriate, your diagnosis and treatment options are reviewed by the relevant MDT / tumour board.
- Medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, radiology or nuclear medicine and other specialists contribute according to the cancer.
- Your CTI oncologist remains closely involved throughout treatment with medicines that travel through the body (systemic treatment) and the coordination of your overall cancer care.
- Specialised technologies or treatments are considered only when they add meaningful clinical value.
- Clinical pharmacists, associate doctors, physician assistants, nurses, dietitians, psychologists, rehabilitation and palliative-care teams provide additional support according to need.
The aim is not simply to deliver individual treatments. It is to bring the right specialists together around one coordinated cancer-care plan.
Returning Home
Leave India with a clear follow-up plan.
- Receive treatment summaries, prescriptions and follow-up instructions.
- Understand which symptoms require urgent medical attention.
- Know when blood tests, scans and oncology reviews are due.
- Fit-to-fly advice or certification can be provided when clinically required.
- Where appropriate, CTI can support remote follow-up and communication with your local medical team.
The goal is not to keep international patients in India longer than necessary. It is to provide the care they need and help them return home safely with continuity.
Start with the medical question — not the airline ticket.
International treatment should begin with understanding the cancer, what has already been done and what decision needs to be made next. Whenever possible, we prefer to review the situation before you travel.
Your medical information
You do not need every document before contacting us. We can tell you what matters for your individual needs.
Is travel to India actually worthwhile?
Sometimes the treatment already recommended at home is entirely appropriate. A useful second opinion should improve decision-making, not create unnecessary travel.
What is the likely treatment pathway?
Once sufficient information is available, we can help identify whether care is likely to involve systemic treatment, surgery, radiotherapy, specialised diagnostics or another expert team.
How long might treatment take, and what might it cost?
Where possible, the hospital team can provide an indicative estimate and expected duration. Final treatment and cost may change after examination or additional investigations.
From your first message to your return home.
Understand the medical plan first
Before making travel arrangements, discuss what treatment is being considered, why it may be suitable and which details still need confirmation. Ask about the likely length of stay and any tests needed after arrival, so you and your family can plan with a clearer understanding of what to expect.
Bring the right specialists together
Where appropriate, your diagnosis and treatment options are reviewed by an MDT, also called a tumour board, before the treatment sequence is finalised. Specialists consider surgery, radiotherapy and medicines together. Your oncologist then explains the proposed plan, how the treatments fit together and what the next step involves.
Personal oncology care with the strength of the Apollo Hospitals network behind it.
International patients should not have to choose between a doctor who understands their diagnosis, treatment history and priorities and access to a comprehensive cancer-care system. Our model is designed to provide both.
Your oncology team
CTI provides the doctor-led clinical relationship that ties the cancer journey together.
- Medical oncology and treatment planning
- Second opinions and complex cancer decisions
- Systemic cancer treatment and monitoring
- Understanding tests for cancer features, such as proteins or genetic changes (biomarkers)
- Coordination with surgery, radiation, pathology and other specialists
- Continuity during treatment and follow-up
An established international healthcare destination
Apollo International Patient Services are designed to support patients before travel, on arrival, during hospital care and after returning home.
- Surgical, medical and radiation oncology specialists
- Pathology and molecular tests; computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and combined positron emission tomography and CT (PET-CT) scans
- Blood-cancer care (haemato-oncology), transplant and selected cellular therapies
- Intensive care, interventional radiology and wider hospital specialties
- Medical-visa, travel, accommodation, interpreter and international-patient support
Access to advanced technology — when it genuinely adds value.
Modern oncology offers remarkable technology, but not every patient needs every technology. The first question is whether it is relevant to your cancer.
CyberKnife® S7 in Bengaluru
Apollo Cancer Centre Bengaluru provides CyberKnife S7 robotic radiosurgery for selected tumours requiring highly precise, non-invasive radiation treatment.
Proton beam therapy
Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai provides proton therapy in Chennai.
Robotic & minimally invasive cancer surgery
Access to surgeons specialising in particular organs, using open surgery, keyhole surgery in the abdomen (laparoscopic) or chest (thoracoscopic), and robot-assisted approaches, including da Vinci systems where appropriate.
Precision oncology
Expert pathology, tests that use antibodies to identify proteins in tissue (immunohistochemistry), biomarker and molecular tests, and tests that read many genes at once (next-generation sequencing), when results can change a meaningful treatment decision.
CAR-T & bone marrow transplant
Selected patients with blood cancers can be evaluated for bone marrow transplantation, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, which uses immune cells changed in a laboratory, and other specialised blood-cancer treatments within Apollo.
Contemporary systemic treatment
Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormonal therapy, antibody-drug conjugates and other evidence-based systemic treatments according to diagnosis and need.
The practical side of travelling for treatment matters too.
CTI focuses on your cancer care. Apollo International Patient Services can assist with many of the practical aspects of travelling to India for treatment.
Medical visa support
Hospital documentation and guidance for medical-visa applications, subject to current government requirements.
Airport & local travel
Airport meet-and-assist and transfer support are available at selected centres.
Accommodation
Guidance on hotels, guest houses or serviced apartments close to the hospital.
Interpreters
Language support can be explored in advance, subject to availability.
Cost & billing guidance
Indicative estimates, deposits, insurance eligibility and direct-billing guidance where applicable.
Food & dietary needs
International menus and dietary support can be discussed according to clinical requirements.
Family support
Practical guidance for accompanying family members or attendants.
Prayer & spiritual needs
Prayer and spiritual spaces are available within Apollo facilities.
International services vary by hospital and are subject to availability and current Apollo policies.
The aim is to get you home safely — with a clear plan.
International cancer care should not create unnecessary dependence on repeated travel. Whenever clinically appropriate, follow-up can be shared with your doctor at home.
Before you leave India
Review your treatment summary, medicines and follow-up arrangements with the team. Check when your next tests or appointments are due, which symptoms need urgent attention and who will provide care locally. Discuss whether you are ready to travel before confirming your return journey.
After you return home
Where appropriate, CTI can support follow-up through remote review and communication with your local medical team.
Questions international patients often ask us.
Do I need to travel to India before receiving an opinion?
Usually not as a first step. Call or WhatsApp CTI. We will tell you what reports are useful and whether review before travel is appropriate.
Can I get an estimate of treatment cost before I travel?
An indicative estimate may often be possible once sufficient medical information and a likely treatment plan are available. Final cost can change after examination, pathology review or additional investigations.
How long will I need to stay in India?
This depends on the treatment. A consultation or diagnostic review may require a short stay; surgery, radiotherapy or repeated systemic treatment may require longer. We try to provide a realistic estimate before travel whenever possible.
Can Apollo help with a medical visa and accommodation?
Apollo International Patient Services can assist with medical-visa documentation and guidance, accommodation, airport transfers and other practical arrangements, subject to current policies and availability.
What if I do not speak English?
Interpreter assistance can be explored through Apollo International Patient Services. Tell us the preferred language before travel so availability can be checked.
Can treatment continue in my own country after I return?
Often, yes. This depends on the cancer, treatment and local facilities. Where appropriate, CTI can provide clear summaries and coordinate follow-up with your local doctor.
Do I need CyberKnife, proton therapy, CAR-T or robotic surgery?
Not necessarily. These are specialised technologies for selected situations. The first question is whether they add clinical value for your cancer. CTI and the relevant Apollo specialist teams can help make that decision.
Important: Cancer Therapy India is a doctor-led oncology team and patient-education platform. CTI doctors provide oncology services through Apollo Hospitals in Bengaluru and collaborate with relevant Apollo departments and specialists. Visa, accommodation, airport transfer, interpreter, international billing and other logistical services are provided or coordinated by the relevant Apollo International Patient Services teams and are subject to availability and current policy. Treatment recommendations, duration and cost estimates may change after in-person assessment or additional investigations.
Start with your diagnosis and the question you need answered.
Call or WhatsApp Cancer Therapy India. Tell us where you are contacting us from, your diagnosis or the diagnosis of the person you are supporting, and what help you need. We will guide you regarding the next step.
