International Cancer Second Opinions
Remote consultations are available for patients and families outside India who would like an independent review of a cancer diagnosis, molecular findings or treatment strategy.
The consultation is designed to help clarify the important clinical questions, review available treatment options and identify whether any additional testing or specialist input may be useful.
Who this is for
An international cancer second opinion may be useful if you:
- Have recently received a cancer diagnosis
- Want an independent review before starting treatment
- Have been offered more than one treatment option
- Are considering chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy
- Have cancer that has recurred or progressed
- Have an NGS, biomarker or molecular report that needs interpretation
- Want another opinion before travelling for treatment
- Would like to understand whether your current treatment plan is appropriate
- Need help organising complex reports and treatment recommendations
A remote second opinion can often provide useful clarity before deciding whether travel is necessary.
What reports are needed
The review is based on the available clinical information.
Where possible, please share the most relevant records before the consultation, including:
- Biopsy or pathology reports
- PET-CT, CT, MRI or other imaging reports
- Blood investigations
- Operative notes or discharge summaries
- Details of previous chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or radiation treatment
- Current treatment recommendations
- Molecular, biomarker or NGS reports
- Relevant medical history and current medications
If important information is missing, additional records or tests may be suggested.
Reports in English are preferable. If your reports are in another language, an English translation may be helpful for accurate review.
How the consultation works
1. Request a consultation
Submit your consultation request and basic clinical details.
2. Share your medical records
Relevant reports can be sent securely before the appointment whenever possible.
3. Clinical review
The available pathology, imaging, previous treatment, molecular findings and proposed treatment plan are reviewed together.
4. Video consultation
During the consultation, the important clinical questions, areas of uncertainty and treatment options are discussed.
5. Plan the next step
The consultation aims to clarify what should happen next and whether any additional testing, specialist review or in-person assessment may be useful.
What the review may help clarify
Depending on your situation, the consultation may address questions such as:
- Is the diagnosis and stage clear?
- Does the pathology need another review?
- Is the proposed treatment appropriate?
- Are there reasonable alternatives?
- Is chemotherapy necessary?
- Could targeted therapy or immunotherapy be relevant?
- Does an NGS or biomarker finding change the treatment strategy?
- Is further molecular testing needed?
- What options may be considered after recurrence or progression?
- Is travel for treatment necessary, or can care continue locally?
The goal is to help you understand the clinical reasoning behind the available options.
Written summary
Where appropriate, a written summary of the key discussion and recommendations can be provided after the consultation.
This may include:
- The main clinical issues reviewed
- Key treatment considerations
- Suggested additional investigations
- Important molecular or biomarker findings
- Possible treatment options
- Questions to discuss with your treating oncology team
- Recommended next steps
The purpose of the summary is to make the consultation easier to discuss with your local doctors and family.
Coordination with your treating oncologist
An international second opinion does not mean that you need to change your treating oncologist.
In many cases, treatment can continue with your existing oncology team.
The consultation can help:
- Confirm the current treatment strategy
- Identify additional questions worth discussing
- Clarify molecular or genomic findings
- Review alternative treatment approaches
- Suggest investigations that may influence the next decision
Where appropriate, the recommendations can be shared with your treating team so that care remains coordinated locally.
Can treatment continue in my home country?
In many situations, yes.
If the recommended treatment or investigations are available locally, there may be no need to travel.
The second opinion can therefore be used primarily as an independent clinical review while your existing oncology team continues treatment.
Travel should generally be considered only when there is a clear medical reason or when a required treatment, procedure or specialist service is not available locally.
If travel to Delhi becomes necessary
Some patients may eventually require an in-person assessment, procedure, specialised investigation or treatment that cannot be appropriately managed through teleconsultation alone.
If travel to Delhi is clinically relevant, this can be discussed during the consultation.
Depending on the situation, guidance may include:
- Whether an in-person oncology consultation is necessary
- What additional reports or pathology material to bring
- Whether further imaging or investigations are required
- Which specialist services may be needed
- Whether treatment can subsequently continue in your home country
Travel should be based on clinical need rather than being an automatic part of the second-opinion process.
Molecular and NGS report review
Patients increasingly receive genomic or molecular testing as part of their cancer care.
These reports can be difficult to interpret because not every detected mutation has an established treatment implication.
A molecular review can help assess:
- Whether the alteration is relevant to the cancer type
- Whether there is an approved targeted treatment
- Whether the finding may influence immunotherapy
- Whether clinical-trial options may exist
- Whether the result suggests inherited cancer risk
- Whether additional testing should be considered
Molecular findings are interpreted together with the cancer diagnosis, stage, previous treatment and overall clinical situation.
[Learn More About Precision Oncology]
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a cancer second opinion without travelling to India?
Yes. Many second opinions can be completed remotely using your medical reports followed by a video consultation.
If an in-person examination or procedure is required, this can be discussed separately.
Do you need my original pathology slides?
Not always.
The pathology report may be sufficient for an initial review. If there is uncertainty about the diagnosis or tumour classification, review of the original pathology material may be recommended.
Can you review an NGS report from another country?
Yes. Molecular and NGS reports can be reviewed as part of the overall clinical assessment.
The important issue is whether the findings have meaningful implications for treatment in your particular situation.
Will I have to travel to Delhi for treatment?
Not necessarily.
If appropriate treatment is available with your current oncology team, care may continue locally. Travel is generally considered only when there is a specific clinical need.
Can the recommendations be shared with my treating oncologist?
Yes.
A second opinion is intended to support informed decision-making and can be used alongside your existing oncology care.
Can a family member attend the consultation?
Yes. Family members may participate in the video consultation when appropriate, particularly when they are closely involved in treatment decisions.
Request an International Cancer Second Opinion
If you would like an independent review of a cancer diagnosis, proposed treatment plan, recurrence or molecular report, you can request an international consultation.
Please keep the most relevant medical records available, including pathology, imaging, previous treatment details and molecular reports where applicable.