Your cancer treatment
questions — answered.

Not yet diagnosed but concerned about a symptom? See our cancer symptoms guide — 8 cancer types with warning signs in English and Nepali (क्यान्सरका लक्षणहरू चिन्नुहोस्) — then come back here for next steps.

Bring whatever you have — do not delay coming because documents are incomplete. The most useful items in order of priority:

• Biopsy or pathology report — the original, if possible. This is the single most important document.
• Scan reports and images — CT, MRI, PET-CT, ultrasound. Bring both the printed report and the CD or USB with images. If images are on a hospital app or cloud link, note the login details.
• List of current medications — including any Ayurvedic, herbal, or over-the-counter medicines. Drug interactions matter in cancer treatment.
• NHIF card or private insurance card — bring the original and a photocopy.
• Referral letter — if your GP or surgeon has given one. Not required, but helpful.
• A family member or trusted person — to help remember what is discussed and ask questions you might forget. You will receive significant information at the first appointment.

If you are coming from outside Kathmandu valley and cannot carry originals safely, clear photos of documents on WhatsApp are accepted for the initial review.

A first cancer consultation at KCC typically takes 60 to 90 minutes. Here is what happens in order:

• Registration and document review (~15 min) — administrative team registers you, copies documents, verifies insurance.
• Specialist consultation (~30–45 min) — a senior oncologist reviews your reports, takes a full medical history, examines you if relevant, and explains your diagnosis clearly in Nepali.
• Tumour board discussion — for most cases, your case is then placed on the multidisciplinary tumour board agenda (within 1–3 days) before the final treatment plan is confirmed in writing.
• Treatment planning meeting (~15 min) — after tumour board review, you return for a second short appointment where the full treatment plan, timeline, and costs are explained.

You will leave your first visit with a clear understanding of your diagnosis, a provisional or confirmed treatment plan, and a scheduled next appointment. You will not leave uncertain about what happens next.

KCC schedules based on clinical urgency. As a general guide:

• Urgent cases (rapidly growing tumours, obstruction, bleeding, severe symptoms) — typically seen within 2 to 3 working days.
• Standard first appointments — usually within one week.

The fastest path to an appointment: WhatsApp your biopsy report and a brief description of your situation to 9818-226237 before calling. This allows the clinical team to triage your case and prepare before your arrival, which often means a shorter and more productive first consultation.

Do not wait. Earlier staging and earlier treatment starts produce better outcomes. The correct response to a cancer diagnosis is immediate referral — not weeks of waiting while gathering documents.

No referral letter is required. You can self-refer directly to KCC. Call 01-5091629, WhatsApp 9818-226237, or walk in during OPD hours.

A referral letter from a GP, surgeon, or district hospital is helpful because it summarises your case and may mean a faster first consultation. But it is not a requirement and will not delay or prevent your appointment.

Note: for NHIF coverage, your insurer may require a referral letter for certain procedures. The KCC administrative team will advise on this at registration.

A multidisciplinary tumour board (MTB or tumour board) is a scheduled clinical meeting where specialists from different disciplines — surgical oncology, radiation oncology, medical oncology, radiology, pathology — review your case together and agree on the optimal treatment plan.

What it means for you practically:

• Your treatment plan is reviewed by at least 3 to 5 specialists, not just the doctor you saw in clinic.
• All options — surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, combined approaches — are considered simultaneously rather than sequentially.
• You receive a written treatment plan after the board review, not just verbal instructions.
• This is standard at KCC for every patient — not just complex cases. At many private hospitals in India, tumour board review is only for selected cases.

The board meets twice weekly. Your case will be placed on the next available board after your first consultation — your oncologist will confirm the exact date.

Main campus (Radiotherapy, Surgery, Inpatient):
Tathali, Nala Road, Bhaktapur — approximately 25 minutes from Kathmandu Ring Road (Koteshwor).

City branch (OPD consultations, Chemotherapy day unit):
Naxal, Kathmandu — central location, accessible from all areas of the valley.

From the Ring Road: Take the Bhaktapur highway from Koteshwor. KCC Tathali is clearly signposted. Taxi from Ring Road: approximately NPR 500–700.

Public transport: Buses from Ratnapark and New Buspark run toward Bhaktapur. Inform the conductor you are going to KCC/Tathali.

From outside the valley: Patients from Pokhara, Birgunj, Dharan, Nepalgunj, and Butwal travel by intercity bus or fly to TIA. Ring Road is the standard arrival point — taxi or micro onward.

Parking: Free vehicle parking is available at the Tathali campus. The city branch has limited street parking.

Full location guide with map →

Hair loss depends entirely on which drugs are used — not on chemotherapy in general. Here is a practical guide by common regimen:

Hair loss from chemotherapy is almost always temporary. Hair begins regrowing 2–4 months after the end of treatment. The texture may be slightly different initially but typically normalises within a year.

Your oncologist will tell you specifically what to expect from your regimen at your treatment planning appointment.

Most patients can eat a normal Nepali diet during chemotherapy with some modifications around treatment days:

• Day of infusion: Eat a light meal before arriving — nausea is more common on an empty stomach. Avoid heavy, fatty, or strongly spiced food on infusion day.
• Days 1–3 after infusion: Eat small, frequent portions. Cold or room-temperature foods are often better tolerated than hot foods if nausea is present. Dal, rice, and yoghurt are well tolerated by most patients.
• Avoid during low blood count days (day 7–14): Raw meat, raw fish, unpasteurised dairy, and unwashed raw vegetables carry infection risk when immunity is low. Well-cooked dal bhat is safe.
• Avoid throughout treatment: Grapefruit and grapefruit juice — this is not a general advice but is genuinely medically important. Grapefruit affects the metabolism of several chemotherapy and targeted therapy drugs.

A KCC nutritionist consultation is available if you have specific dietary questions, significant weight loss, or difficulty eating. Ask at your first appointment.

These are common and expected — manage at home with prescribed medications:

• Nausea and reduced appetite — take your anti-nausea medication (ondansetron, metoclopramide) as prescribed. Do not wait until you are severely nauseous.
• Fatigue — rest when needed. Light walking is beneficial even when tired. Plan your energy around treatment days.
• Mild hair thinning — expected with some regimens. Use a gentle shampoo.
• Mouth sores (mucositis) — maintain oral hygiene with a soft toothbrush. Salt-water rinses help. KCC will prescribe a mouthwash if needed.
• Tingling or numbness in hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy) — report to your oncologist but usually manageable. Avoid extremes of temperature on affected areas.
• Constipation or loose stools — common with several regimens. Take prescribed medications. Stay hydrated.

You will receive a written list of expected side effects for your specific regimen, with clear guidance on when to call — at your treatment planning appointment. If in doubt about whether a symptom needs urgent attention, call and ask. KCC will not consider the call unnecessary.

Travel within Nepal during treatment is generally possible between cycles, with some precautions:

• Avoid travel during the low blood count period (days 7–14 after chemotherapy) when infection risk is highest.
• Always carry your medication, especially anti-nausea drugs and antibiotics if prescribed.
• Know the location of a hospital at your destination in case of fever or emergency.
• For long bus journeys — factor in the physical impact on the day of travel.

International travel during active chemotherapy requires specific oncology clearance. Discuss with your oncologist before booking any flights. Medical travel insurance is difficult to obtain during active cancer treatment.

For radiotherapy — daily travel during a 5–7 week course is generally impractical. Patients from outside the valley typically stay near KCC Tathali for the duration.

The most clinically significant thing a family member can do is ensure the patient attends every scheduled appointment and takes every prescribed medication. Treatment adherence — showing up for each cycle, taking oral medicines on schedule — has a direct impact on treatment outcomes. Life responsibilities, fatigue, and "feeling better" are the three most common reasons patients skip doses or appointments. A family member who manages logistics, provides transport, and gently enforces attendance is a clinical asset.

Beyond logistics:

• Come to consultations. A second person retains more information. Write down what the doctor says. Ask the questions the patient forgot to ask.
• Monitor for emergency signs. Know the fever threshold (38°C after chemo = call immediately). Know the KCC emergency number.
• Manage the social pressure. Relatives who suggest going to India, stopping treatment for alternative medicine, or "not stressing the patient with more hospitals" — these dynamics are real and damaging. The family caregiver is often the person who manages this pressure.
• Take care of yourself. Caregiver burnout is real and common. KCC's counselling services are available for family members, not only patients.

The most important thing a family member needs to know is the fever rule: if a patient on chemotherapy has a temperature above 38°C — at any time of day or night — this is a potential medical emergency. Do not give paracetamol and wait. Go to KCC or the nearest hospital with an emergency department immediately.

Other practical home care knowledge:

• Avoid sick visitors. During the low blood count period (typically days 7–14 after chemo), avoid bringing anyone with a cold, cough, or fever into the patient's environment.
• Food hygiene matters more than usual. Ensure food is well cooked. Wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly. Avoid raw meat and unpasteurised dairy.
• Handle medication carefully. Some oral chemotherapy drugs (like Capecitabine) should not be crushed or handled without gloves by people who are pregnant. Follow the pharmacist's dispensing instructions.
• Nausea medicines need to be given proactively. The anti-nausea medication should be taken before symptoms are severe, not after. Family members can help ensure this schedule is kept.

Yes. KCC offers counselling services for both patients and family members. A cancer diagnosis affects the entire family unit — the anxiety, sleep disruption, financial strain, and changed roles affect every family member, not only the patient.

To access counselling, ask your oncologist to refer you to the psychosocial support team, or request it directly at the front desk. There is no additional shame in asking — it is part of comprehensive cancer care, not a sign of weakness.

Peer support — connecting with other families who have been through similar experiences — is also available through KCC's patient community group. Ask the nursing team for details.

Children can visit patients receiving chemotherapy, with some precautions:

• Children who are currently unwell (cough, cold, fever, diarrhoea) should not visit during treatment, especially during the low blood count period.
• Children who have recently received a live vaccine (chickenpox, MMR) should avoid contact with the patient for 2–3 weeks after vaccination.
• Children are not permitted in the actual treatment room during chemotherapy infusion but can visit the patient in the ward or waiting area.

Healthy children visiting a stable patient at home between cycles — including helping with daily life — is encouraged. Children benefit from understanding the situation at an age-appropriate level, and isolation from family during treatment is psychologically harder for patients than most families realise.

Children are aware that something is wrong before they are told. Secrecy creates anxiety; age-appropriate honesty reduces it.

Principles that child psychologists recommend:

• Use the word "cancer" — euphemisms ("illness," "health problem") create confusion and distrust when the child eventually learns the truth.
• Explain in concrete terms appropriate to age: "Baba has cancer. Doctors are giving him medicine to kill the cancer. Some days he will feel tired or sick from the medicine. That is normal and does not mean he is getting worse."
• Reassure about what will not change: school, routines, who will be home when.
• Give the child something to do: bringing water, sitting quietly, helping with small tasks. Helplessness is the hardest emotion for children.
• Answer questions honestly, including "will Mama die?" — "We are doing everything to make sure that doesn't happen. The doctors are working very hard."

KCC's psychosocial team can provide guidance on specific conversations for specific ages. Ask at your next appointment.

Yes, completely. All patient information at KCC is confidential and governed by Nepal's Individual Privacy Act 2018. Your medical records, diagnosis, and treatment details are not shared with:

• Your employer — KCC will not disclose your diagnosis to your workplace without your explicit written consent. A medical certificate stating "under treatment" can be provided without naming the condition.
• Insurance companies — information is only shared as required to process your specific claim, and only with your consent.
• Family members — even a spouse or parent cannot receive your medical information without your explicit consent. You may specify who can and cannot be informed.

If you have specific confidentiality concerns — for example, you do not want certain family members to know — raise this directly with the administrative team or your oncologist at your first visit. A clear instruction will be placed in your file and respected throughout your treatment.

Yes — and KCC actively encourages this for significant treatment decisions. A second opinion is not an insult to your oncologist; it is an act of informed self-care. KCC will provide copies of all relevant records, reports, and images to facilitate a second opinion at any institution you choose.

KCC also offers formal second opinion consultations. If you have a diagnosis or treatment plan from another hospital — in Nepal or India — a KCC specialist can review it and provide a written second opinion. This consultation does not obligate you to treat at KCC.

WhatsApp your documents to 9818-226237 with the note "Second Opinion Request" and the team will schedule the appropriate specialist review.

This is one of the most common questions patients do not ask — because they are afraid the doctor will disapprove. Please tell your oncologist everything you are taking. This is a clinical necessity, not a confession.

Why it matters: Several herbal and Ayurvedic preparations — including some widely used ones in Nepal — interact directly with chemotherapy and targeted therapy drugs. Some reduce drug effectiveness. Some increase toxicity. Some affect liver function in ways that change chemotherapy dosing.

The KCC oncology team will not dismiss or judge your use of complementary approaches. They will review what you are taking, advise on any known interactions, and work with you on what can safely continue alongside medical treatment.

The position that causes harm: stopping cancer treatment because alternative medicine is "working" — based on feeling better, which is often a normal fluctuation, not response. If you are considering stopping or pausing treatment for any reason, discuss it with your oncologist first. That conversation is always available.

Completing treatment is not the end of your care relationship with KCC — it is the beginning of the surveillance phase, which is clinically important for detecting recurrence early when it is most treatable.

A typical post-treatment surveillance schedule:

• First 2 years: Clinic review every 3 months. Specific scans and blood tests depending on cancer type.
• Years 3–5: Clinic review every 6 months. Annual imaging for most cancer types.
• After 5 years: Annual review for most patients, with ongoing monitoring for some cancer types (e.g. breast cancer — annual mammogram; colorectal — colonoscopy schedule).

Long-term follow-up at KCC is an important advantage over treatment in India, where returning for every surveillance appointment involves flights and accommodation. All post-treatment follow-up visits are in Kathmandu.

If you notice new symptoms between scheduled surveillance appointments — a new lump, unexplained pain, unexpected weight loss, or anything that feels wrong — contact KCC immediately rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit.

Yes. You have the right to access and receive copies of all your medical records at KCC at any time. This includes pathology reports, scan reports, treatment summaries, blood results, and radiation treatment plans.

To request records: contact the KCC administrative team in person or by phone. A standard processing time of 3 to 5 working days applies for complete record sets. Urgent requests (e.g. for second opinions or treatment transfers) are processed faster — state the urgency and reason at the time of request.

Records can be provided as paper copies, PDFs, or CD/USB for imaging studies. There may be a nominal administrative fee for extensive record sets.

You have the right to ask questions about, understand the rationale for, and decline any element of a proposed treatment plan. Informed consent is not a formality — it is a right. No treatment will begin at KCC without your understanding and agreement.

If you have concerns about your treatment plan:

• Ask your oncologist to explain the reasoning — why this treatment, why this sequence, what the alternatives are and why they were not chosen for your case.
• Request a second specialist review within KCC — your case can be presented again at the tumour board with specific questions noted.
• Seek an external second opinion — KCC will provide all records for this purpose.

If you wish to change your treating oncologist at KCC for any reason, speak to the medical director or administrative team. This request will be handled professionally and without affecting the continuity of your care.