Speak to an Oncologist Before You Travel
If you or a family member in Kenya is considering travelling to India for cancer treatment, the first step does not have to be booking a flight or choosing a hospital.
Your medical reports can first be reviewed by Dr Raman Narang, Medical & Hemato-Oncologist in New Delhi, followed by an online consultation to understand your diagnosis, current treatment options and whether travelling to India is likely to be useful.
Considering Cancer Treatment in India from Kenya?
Travelling abroad for cancer treatment is a major medical and financial decision.
Before making travel arrangements, it is useful to understand:
- Whether the diagnosis and stage are clear
- Whether the pathology needs another review
- What treatment options are available
- Whether additional molecular or genetic testing is required
- Whether the recommended treatment is available in Kenya
- Whether treatment in India offers an additional option
- How long you may need to stay in India
- Whether part of the treatment can continue in Kenya
The aim is to help you make an informed decision before you travel.
How the Process Works
1. Send Your Medical Reports
You can send the medical records that are currently available, including:
- Biopsy or pathology reports
- PET-CT, CT, MRI or other scan reports
- Blood investigations
- Details of previous chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy
- Surgery or radiotherapy records
- Molecular testing or NGS reports, if available
You do not need to wait until every report is available before contacting us.
2. Your Cancer Case Is Reviewed
The available records are reviewed to understand:
- The diagnosis
- Stage of cancer
- Previous treatment
- Current disease status
- Important unanswered questions
- Possible next treatment options
If additional reports or investigations are required, these can be identified before the consultation.
3. Online Consultation from Kenya
You and your family can speak directly with Dr Raman Narang through an online consultation before deciding whether to travel to India.
The consultation may include discussion about:
- Your diagnosis and stage
- Current treatment options
- Previous treatment and response
- Whether additional testing is required
- Whether a second pathology review may be useful
- Whether treatment in India should be considered
- Possible next steps
Family members may also participate in the consultation.
4. Decide Whether Travelling to India Is Worthwhile
Not every cancer patient needs to travel abroad.
In some situations, appropriate treatment may already be available closer to home.
In others, India may offer access to additional investigations, multidisciplinary expertise, specialised procedures or treatment options.
The purpose of reviewing the case before travel is to help determine whether coming to India is likely to provide a meaningful benefit.
Cancer Treatment Options in India
Depending on the type and stage of cancer, treatment in India may involve:
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Hormonal therapy
- Precision oncology
- Molecularly guided cancer treatment
- Surgery
- Radiotherapy
- Treatment for lymphoma, myeloma and other blood cancers
- Multidisciplinary cancer care
The appropriate treatment varies from patient to patient and can only be recommended after reviewing the clinical information.
Cancer Second Opinion for Patients in Kenya
You do not need to transfer your entire cancer treatment to India in order to seek another opinion.
A second opinion may be useful when:
- Cancer has recently been diagnosed
- A major treatment decision needs to be made
- Cancer has returned
- Treatment has stopped working
- Surgery has been recommended
- Immunotherapy or targeted therapy is being considered
- An expensive treatment has been advised
- Molecular or NGS testing has been recommended
- There is uncertainty regarding the diagnosis
- You want another opinion before travelling abroad
After the review, you may still choose to continue treatment with your existing oncology team in Kenya.
Precision Oncology and Biomarker Testing
Modern cancer treatment increasingly depends on understanding the biological characteristics of an individual tumour.
For selected cancers, tests such as:
- NGS
- EGFR
- ALK
- ROS1
- BRAF
- HER2
- BRCA
- PD-L1
- MSI/MMR
and other biomarkers may influence treatment decisions.
If molecular testing has already been performed, the results can be reviewed as part of the consultation.
If testing has not been performed, whether it is required can be discussed based on the cancer type and treatment situation.
What Medical Records Should You Send?
Where possible, send:
Pathology
Biopsy, histopathology or cytology reports.
Imaging
PET-CT, CT, MRI or other recent scan reports.
Previous Treatment
Details of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, surgery or radiotherapy already received.
Blood Tests
Recent blood counts, liver and kidney function tests and other relevant investigations.
Molecular Reports
NGS, genetic testing or other biomarker reports, if available.
If some reports are missing, the available information can still be reviewed first.
Treatment in New Delhi
If treatment in India is considered appropriate, the next steps can be planned according to the medical requirements of the patient.
Depending on the situation, this may involve:
- Further investigations
- Pathology review
- Specialist consultations
- Day-care cancer treatment
- Hospital admission
- Surgery
- Radiation oncology consultation
- Molecular testing
The appropriate hospital and treatment setting can be selected according to the clinical requirements rather than choosing a hospital before the medical plan is clear.
How Long Will I Need to Stay in India?
The duration of stay varies significantly between patients.
A patient travelling for a consultation or investigation may require a shorter stay, whereas surgery, radiation therapy or repeated treatment cycles may require a longer period.
A more realistic estimate can usually be discussed after the medical records have been reviewed.
Can I Continue Treatment in Kenya?
In many situations, yes.
Where medically appropriate, parts of treatment or follow-up may be continued with your treating doctor in Kenya.
This can be particularly useful for patients who require longer-term cancer treatment.
Online follow-up can also be arranged after returning home.
Meet Your Oncologist in New Delhi
Dr Raman Narang
Medical & Hemato-Oncologist
New Delhi, India
Dr Raman Narang’s clinical practice includes medical oncology, hemato-oncology, precision oncology, biomarker-guided cancer treatment and complex cancer treatment reviews.
International patients can initially send their reports and consult online before deciding whether travelling to India is necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I consult from Kenya before travelling to India?
Yes. Medical reports can be reviewed first, followed by an online consultation.
Do I need to choose a hospital in India before contacting you?
No. The medical situation can first be reviewed. If treatment in India is appropriate, the type of hospital and facilities required can then be discussed.
Can you review treatment that has already started in Kenya?
Yes. Previous investigations, treatment and current disease status can be reviewed as part of a second-opinion consultation.
Can my family participate in the consultation?
Yes. Family members may participate in the online consultation.
Can I send my biopsy and scan reports online?
Yes. Pathology reports, scan reports, blood investigations and previous treatment records can be submitted electronically.
Do all patients need to travel to India?
No. One purpose of reviewing the case before travel is to determine whether travelling to India is likely to provide an additional treatment benefit.
Can treatment continue in Kenya after I return?
In many cases, yes. Where appropriate, follow-up or parts of treatment may be coordinated with the patient’s existing doctors in Kenya.
Can you review NGS or molecular testing reports?
Yes. Molecular reports can be reviewed to determine whether any findings may be relevant to the treatment plan.
Considering Cancer Treatment in India?
You do not need to make travel arrangements before understanding your treatment options.
Send your medical records from Kenya for review.
After the available reports have been assessed, an online consultation can be arranged to discuss the diagnosis, treatment options and whether travelling to India should be considered.
Dr Raman Narang
Medical & Hemato-Oncologist
New Delhi, India