What is Cancer?

Our body is made up of millions of tiny cells. Normally, old cells die and new ones take their place in an orderly way. Cancer happens when this process goes wrong.

Who is an Oncologist?

An oncologist is a doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating cancer. When a general physician suspects cancer based on symptoms or test results, they refer the patient to an oncologist. This specialist takes a deeper look at the reports, confirms the diagnosis, understands the type and stage of cancer, and builds a personalised treatment plan that suits that specific patient’s condition and overall health. 

Types of Oncologists

Think of cancer care like building a house. Different specialists handle different parts of the job, but they all work toward the same goal, your recovery.

Medical Oncologist

A medical oncologist is usually the primary doctor who coordinates your cancer treatment. They manage everything that involves medicine, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy. If you’ve been newly diagnosed and don’t know where to start, a medical oncologist is often your first call. They study the pathology reports, understand the cancer’s stage and behaviour, and build a treatment plan around your overall health, your age, and your personal goals. They are also the ones who will monitor how your body responds to treatment and adjust as needed.

Surgical Oncologist

A surgical oncologist steps in when cancer needs to be physically removed from the body. This is a specialty within surgery that focuses exclusively on tumours, their removal, and in many cases, reconstruction of what’s been affected. The best surgical oncologists today are trained in minimally invasive techniques. Robotic surgery, laparoscopic procedures, and organ preserving approaches mean that many patients recover faster and with far less disruption to their daily lives than they expect. Surgery is not always the first step, and it’s not always needed at all, a good surgical oncologist will tell you honestly whether an operation is truly the right path for you.

Radiation Oncologist

A radiation oncologist uses carefully directed high energy beams to destroy cancer cells or shrink tumours. Modern radiation techniques, such as IMRT and IGRT, are extraordinarily precise. They can target a tumour while protecting the healthy tissue around it. Many patients are surprised to learn that radiation therapy is painless during the session itself. It typically takes 15 to 20 minutes and is delivered as an outpatient procedure. There is no need for hospital admission in most cases. When all three specialists work together, along with pathologists, radiologists, and support teams, that is what doctors call a multidisciplinary approach. It’s the gold standard of cancer care, and it’s the approach that gives patients the best outcomes.

Meet Dr. Senthil Kumar Ravichander

Dr. Senthil Kumar

When you’re looking for an oncologist near Valasaravakkam, you’re not just looking for qualifications on paper. You’re looking for someone who will sit with you, speak to you in plain language, and help you find a path forward when everything feels uncertain. He is a Senior Consultant Surgical Oncologist, a specialist in breast, gastrointestinal, gynaecological, head and neck, thoracic, and urological cancers. But more than his credentials, what patients remember about Dr. Senthil is how he makes them feel heard.

He once said: “Excellence in oncology is built not only on clinical skill, but on something more fundamental: human connection.”

That philosophy runs through every consultation he holds.

Qualifications and Experience

Dr. Senthil Kumar trained at two of India’s most respected institutions, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, where he completed his M.Ch in Surgical Oncology, and JIPMER, Puducherry. These are not ordinary training grounds. Tata Memorial is one of Asia’s foremost cancer centres, and experience earned there reflects a level of skill and exposure that very few surgeons in the country attain. He holds an MBBS from Thoothukudi Medical College, where he was a University Gold Medalist in General Surgery. He then completed his M.S. in General Surgery from Coimbatore Medical College before moving to Tata Memorial for his advanced specialisation.

His fellowships include:

• Fellowship in Advanced Robotic and Innovative Surgery (FARIS)
• Fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery in Oncology (FALS)
• PIPAC Certification from the National Cancer Centre, Singapore
• da Vinci Robotic Surgery Console Certification

Over his career, Dr. Senthil has performed more than 8,500 complex cancer surgeries and has cared for patients from over 50+ countries. He served as Director and Head of Surgical Oncology at MIOT Hospitals, Chennai, for nearly a decade, where he helped build advanced cancer care programmes including robotic surgery and organ preserving approaches. He currently practises at SRM Prime Hospitals, Ramapuram, making world class surgical oncology accessible to families across Valasaravakkam, Alwarthirunagar, Porur, and the wider western Chennai region, and at OutLiv Clinics for evening consultations.

Areas of Expertise

Dr. Senthil’s surgical expertise covers a wide and complex range:

Robotic and laparoscopic cancer surgery, breast conservation and oncoplastic surgery, HIPEC and PIPAC for advanced abdominal cancers, scarless thyroid surgery, and holistic cancer management in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. He is a member of leading national and international bodies including ASSO, ABSI, ESSO, AGOI, and ARIS. He has also published research in peer reviewed journals including the World Journal of Nuclear Medicine, Indian Journal of Nuclear Medicine, and the Indian Journal of Gynaec Oncology.

Cancers Treated by Dr. Senthil Kumar

Dr. Senthil treats a broad spectrum of cancers, including breast cancer, ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers, stomach and colorectal cancers, pancreatic and periampullary cancers, oral cavity and head and neck cancers, thyroid cancers, lung and oesophageal cancers, kidney, bladder, and prostate cancers, and liver cancers.

Why Patients in Valasaravakkam Trust Dr. Senthil

Patients who come to Dr. Senthil from Valasaravakkam, Porur, Ramapuram, and Alwarthirunagar often say the same things: he listens without rushing, he explains without overwhelming, and he makes them feel like partners in their own care, not just cases to be managed. His approach is clear: he takes time to understand your fears and your priorities before he ever talks about treatment options. Decisions are made together, never in isolation. Family members are included when the patient wants them involved. And quality of life is always part of the conversation, not just how long you live, but how well. For families in western Chennai who previously felt they had to travel to Adyar or Egmore for quality cancer care, Dr. Senthil’s practice at SRM Prime Hospitals, Ramapuram is genuinely life changing in its proximity and accessibility.

Book an Appointment with Dr. Senthil Kumar

SRM Prime Hospitals,

Ramapuram, Mon to Sat, 9 AM to 4 PM

OutLiv Clinics: Mon to Sat, 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Appointment: +91 96006 26950

Emergencies: +91 98698 26950

Email: oncopatientcare@gmail.com

Warning Signs you Should Never Ignore

Here is Something Important to Know: The body almost always gives signals before cancer becomes difficult to treat. Most people who are diagnosed at an early stage look back and remember noticing something weeks or months before they acted on it. If any of the following has been on your mind, something you’ve been meaning to get checked but kept putting off, please read this section carefully.

• Unexplained Weight Loss or Fatigue: If you’ve lost 4 to 5 kg over a few weeks without changing your diet or exercise routine, that is your body trying to tell you something. Paired with fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest, it’s worth a proper evaluation. Many patients from Valasaravakkam and Alwarthirunagar dismiss this as stress or poor sleep. Sometimes it is. But when it persists, it needs investigation.
• Lump or Swelling That Does Not Go Away: Any new lump, in the breast, neck, armpit, groin, or anywhere else, that doesn’t resolve in two to three weeks should be examined. The important thing to know is that most lumps are not cancer. But the only way to find out is to see a doctor. A painless lump can feel harmless. That’s exactly why it gets ignored. Please don’t ignore it.
• Persistent Cough or Difficulty Swallowing: A cough that has lasted more than three weeks and isn’t responding to standard medication, especially in someone who smokes or uses tobacco, needs proper investigation. Similarly, if swallowing has become uncomfortable or food seems to get stuck, that’s a symptom that should not be dismissed as acidity or throat irritation.
• Blood in Urine or Stool: This is always a reason to see a doctor. Not next month. This week. Blood in the urine, dark or altered blood in the stool, or bleeding from places that don’t normally bleed, these are the body’s urgent messages. They have many possible causes, most of which are not cancer. But finding out which one it is, and finding out quickly, makes every difference.
• Mouth Sores That Do Not Heal: Oral cancer is among the most common cancers in India, and in Tamil Nadu particularly, tobacco and areca nut use make oral cavity cancers a very real concern. Any sore in the mouth, a white or red patch, or a thickening of the tissue that has been present for more than two weeks without healing needs to be evaluated by a specialist. If you are in Porur, Valasaravakkam, or nearby and notice this kind of persistent change, please do not wait.
• Changes in Bowel or Bladder Habits: Persistent constipation, loose motions, or a feeling that the bowel doesn’t empty completely, when these changes last more than three to four weeks and don’t have an obvious explanation, they deserve medical attention. The same applies to changes in urination, frequency, urgency, or difficulty, that are new and unusual for you.

Common Cancers Treated by Oncologists

• Breast Cancer: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in urban India. The good news is that when detected early, survival rates are very high. Women in Valasaravakkam and Ramapuram who feel a lump, notice a change in breast shape, or experience nipple discharge should not wait to see a specialist. Monthly self examination and annual mammography after the age of 40 are habits that genuinely save lives.
• Oral and Head & Neck Cancer: Given the high rates of tobacco, pan masala, and areca nut use across Tamil Nadu, oral and head and neck cancers are unfortunately common in this region. The particular challenge with oral cancers is that they often begin as something that looks minor, a small sore, a patch of changed tissue. By the time it hurts enough to seek care, it has often grown. Early screening is the answer.
• Lung Cancer: Lung cancer is no longer just a smoker’s disease. Increasing air pollution, occupational exposure, and passive smoking mean that non smokers are also at risk. A persistent cough, chest discomfort, or unexplained breathlessness that doesn’t resolve with routine treatment needs further investigation.
• Cervical Cancer: Cervical cancer is highly preventable with regular Pap smear screening, and highly treatable when detected early. Women in Alwarthirunagar and across western Chennai should make cervical screening a routine part of their health care, ideally starting from their mid twenties.
• Colorectal Cancer: Colorectal cancer has been rising in younger Indian adults over the past decade. Changes in bowel habits, blood in stool, abdominal pain that doesn’t settle, these are the signs to watch. A colonoscopy can detect polyps before they become cancer, which is exactly the kind of early action that changes outcomes.
• Blood Cancers: Leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma affect the blood and lymphatic system. Unusual fatigue, recurrent infections, swollen lymph nodes, and unexplained bruising or bleeding are symptoms worth discussing with a specialist. Blood cancers are treated by haemato oncologists and respond well to targeted therapies and, in some cases, stem cell transplantation.
• Thyroid Cancer: Thyroid cancer is one of the most treatable cancers, but it requires diagnosis. A lump in the front of the neck, difficulty swallowing, or a changed voice that has appeared without obvious cause should prompt an evaluation. Dr. Senthil Kumar specialises in scarless thyroid surgery, meaning the procedure can be performed without a visible scar on the neck.

Common Cancer Treatments

Cancer treatment has changed enormously over the past two decades. Many patients who come into a first consultation expecting the worst are surprised to learn that their treatment can be far more manageable than they feared. Here is what the main approaches involve.

• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses medicines to kill cancer cells or prevent them from dividing. It can be given as an intravenous drip, as oral tablets, or sometimes both. Not all chemotherapy causes the dramatic side effects that most people picture. Side effects vary significantly by the specific drugs used, the dose, and the individual’s body. Many patients continue working and managing daily life during chemotherapy with proper medical support.
• Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy is one of the more exciting developments in modern oncology. Rather than attacking all fast dividing cells the way chemotherapy does, targeted therapy is designed to interrupt specific pathways that cancer cells use to grow. It is more precise and often better tolerated. It works best when the cancer has specific molecular markers, which is determined through genetic testing of the tumour.
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy doesn’t fight cancer directly. Instead, it trains and activates the body’s own immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells. For certain cancers, particularly lung cancer, melanoma, and some head and neck cancers, immunotherapy has produced remarkable results even in advanced stages. It is increasingly available in Chennai and is part of the care Dr. Senthil’s multidisciplinary team can discuss with patients.
• Radiation Therapy: Modern radiation is targeted, precise, and in most cases completely painless during treatment. Sessions are short and given as an outpatient procedure. The radiation oncologist works from detailed imaging to map exactly where the radiation needs to go, and today’s technology allows that to happen with sub millimetre accuracy.
• Surgery: Surgical oncology today looks very different from what it did twenty years ago. Robotic surgery, laparoscopic techniques, and organ preserving approaches mean that most patients are moving around the same day and going home within days of their procedure. Dr. Senthil Kumar’s expertise in robotic and laparoscopic cancer surgery means that patients near Valasaravakkam and Porur have access to the same surgical standard that was once only available at large central hospitals.
• Hormone Therapy: Some cancers grow by feeding on hormones produced naturally in the body, particularly oestrogen in breast cancer and testosterone in prostate cancer. Hormone therapy works by blocking or reducing these hormones, slowing or stopping cancer growth. It is often used alongside other treatments and is generally well tolerated.
• Palliative Care: Palliative care is one of the most misunderstood areas of cancer medicine. It is not about giving up. It is about making sure that a patient’s pain, nausea, fatigue, and emotional distress are actively managed throughout treatment, so that they can tolerate the treatment itself and maintain the best possible quality of life. Palliative care can run alongside curative treatment from the very beginning. Every good oncology team includes it.

Diagnostics and Support Services

When you first visit an oncologist, they will ask for investigations, tests and scans that help them see exactly what is happening inside your body. These are not delays. They are the oncologist building the most accurate picture possible before making any recommendation.

• Biopsy: A biopsy is the only test that can confirm cancer with certainty. It involves taking a small sample of tissue from the suspicious area, either with a fine needle, a core needle, or a small surgical incision, depending on the location. The sample is then studied under a microscope by a pathologist. The results tell the oncologist exactly what type of cancer is present, how aggressive it is, and what its molecular characteristics are.
• PET-CT Scan: A PET-CT combines two types of imaging to show both the structure and the activity of tissues in the body. Cancer cells consume glucose at a higher rate than normal cells, so they “light up” on a PET scan. This makes it one of the most useful tools for determining how far cancer has spread, which doctors call staging, and for monitoring how well treatment is working.
• MRI and CT Scan: MRI is particularly valuable for soft tissue, it gives detailed pictures of the brain, spine, liver, and pelvic organs. CT scans are faster and excellent for the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Both are used routinely in cancer care, often together, to give a complete picture of the tumour and surrounding structures.
• Tumour Marker Blood Tests: Certain cancers release specific proteins into the blood that can be detected through simple blood tests. CA-125 is associated with ovarian cancer, CA 15-3 with breast cancer, PSA with prostate cancer, and CEA with colorectal cancer. These markers are not diagnostic on their own, they need to be interpreted alongside imaging and clinical findings, but they are valuable tools for monitoring treatment response and detecting recurrence.
• Mammography: Mammography is a low dose Xray specifically designed to image breast tissue. It can detect changes too small to feel during a physical examination. For women over 40, annual mammography is one of the most important things they can do for their health. It is widely available in Chennai and completely non invasive.
• Genetic Testing: Genetic testing analyses DNA from the tumour or from a blood sample to identify specific mutations. This is important for two reasons: first, it helps identify whether a cancer is hereditary (BRCA testing for breast and ovarian cancer, for example); second, it helps determine which targeted therapies are most likely to be effective for that particular cancer.
• Endoscopy: For cancers of the digestive tract, oesophagus, stomach, colon, endoscopy allows the doctor to look directly at the inner lining through a flexible camera. It can detect early stage cancers, take biopsy samples, and in some cases even treat small lesions. It is done under sedation and is generally well tolerated.

Advanced Cancer Care 

Families in Valasaravakkam, Porur, and Alwarthirunagar have long assumed that accessing truly advanced cancer care means a long journey to hospitals in Adyar, Egmore, or the city centre. That assumption is increasingly outdated.

• Tumour Board Approach: At centres like SRM Prime Hospitals, complex cancer cases are discussed by a multidisciplinary tumour board, a meeting of surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, and pathologists who review the case together and agree on the best treatment plan. No single doctor decides alone. This collaborative approach is the gold standard of cancer care internationally, and it’s what Dr. Senthil Kumar’s team practices.
• Day Care Chemotherapy: Many chemotherapy regimens can be given on an outpatient basis. A patient arrives in the morning, receives their infusion in a comfortable day care setting, and goes home the same evening. There is no hospital admission, no disruption to family life, and no need to arrange long term accommodation near a city centre hospital.
• Minimally Invasive Surgery: Robotic and laparoscopic cancer surgery means smaller incisions, less blood loss, reduced pain after the procedure, and a significantly faster recovery. Patients who once expected to spend two weeks in hospital are often home in three to four days. Dr. Senthil Kumar’s fellowship training in robotic surgery, and his da Vinci console certification, places him among a small group of surgeons in Chennai capable of offering this level of care.
• Second Opinion in Cancer Care: If you’ve received a diagnosis and treatment recommendation but want to verify it before proceeding, a second opinion is not just acceptable, it is encouraged. Dr. Senthil Kumar actively welcomes second opinion consultations. Understanding all your options before committing to a treatment path is your right as a patient.

Support Services for Cancer Patients

A cancer diagnosis doesn’t just affect the body. It reaches into every part of a person’s life, their relationships, their work, their sense of identity, their sense of the future. The best cancer care recognises this and provides support that goes well beyond medicine.

• Emotional Counselling: Fear is the companion that comes with every cancer diagnosis. And it doesn’t leave when treatment starts, it transforms. Counselling from a trained professional helps patients and families process the shock, manage anxiety, and develop the emotional resilience they need to get through treatment. It is not a sign of weakness. It is one of the most practical things a cancer patient can do.
• Nutritional Guidance: During chemotherapy and radiation, appetite often drops. Nausea, taste changes, and fatigue can make eating feel impossible. Yet nutrition is essential, a body that is nourished tolerates treatment better and recovers faster. A clinical dietitian who works with cancer patients can adapt a plan to the specific drugs being used, the patient’s food preferences, and the cultural context of their daily eating. In Tamil Nadu, where meals are built around rice, dal, rasam, and vegetables, it is entirely possible to maintain good nutrition, with guidance.
• Pain Management: Modern oncology does not accept unnecessary pain. Whether pain comes from the cancer itself or from treatment, there are safe and effective ways to manage it, oral medicines, nerve blocks, epidurals, and palliative interventions. Patients should feel completely free to tell their oncologist that their pain is not controlled and ask for better management. This is not complaining. This is advocating for yourself.
• Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation: After surgery, the body needs to be guided back to strength. After breast surgery, shoulder mobility exercises are essential. After abdominal procedures, a structured walking programme is prescribed. Physiotherapists who specialise in oncology rehabilitation understand the specific needs of cancer patients and can design recovery programmes that are safe, gradual, and effective.
• Insurance and Financial Support: Cancer treatment is expensive, and the financial burden on families can be overwhelming. Good oncology centres help patients navigate what’s available to them, government schemes like the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) and national programmes like Ayushman Bharat/PMJAY cover significant portions of cancer treatment costs. Private insurance claims, pre authorisation processes, and financial counselling are all part of what a patient centred team provides. If you’re in Valasaravakkam or Porur and are worried about how to afford treatment, please ask, there is almost always more help available than people realise.

Cancer Recovery and Life After Treatment

This is the section that most oncology blogs skip, and it is arguably the one that matters most to the patients who have already begun their journey.

• What Happens After Treatment Ends: Finishing chemotherapy or radiation is a milestone. It is also, unexpectedly, a moment that many patients find difficult. The structure of treatment, regular appointments, a clear plan, people checking on you, suddenly stops. The journey continues, but the map looks different. What happens next is called survivorship. It is a stage of cancer care with its own needs, its own challenges, and its own reasons for hope.
• Follow Up Care Schedule: After treatment, your oncologist will put you on a follow up schedule. This typically includes physical examinations every three to six months, blood tests, and periodic imaging to check for any signs of recurrence. These visits are not optional extras. They are the safety net that catches problems early, when they are most treatable. For patients near Valasaravakkam, Alwarthirunagar, and Porur, having an oncologist as close as SRM Prime Hospitals, Ramapuram means these follow up visits are not a day long ordeal. They become a manageable part of life.
• Managing Side Effects After Treatment: Some treatment side effects don’t disappear when the treatment ends. Fatigue can persist for months. Peripheral neuropathy, tingling or numbness in the hands and feet from certain chemotherapy drugs, may take time to resolve. Hormonal changes from breast cancer treatment can bring their own challenges. These are all real, all known, and all manageable with the right support. The key is to keep talking to your oncologist after treatment ends, not just during it.
• Returning to Normal Life as a Survivor: Many cancer survivors return to work, to exercise, to family life, to travel, to full, meaningful lives. What “normal” looks like after cancer is often different from before. Different, but not diminished. The fear of recurrence is something almost every survivor carries. It can fade over time, particularly as follow up scans come back clear, but it rarely disappears completely. This is where counselling, community, and ongoing medical relationship matter. You are not supposed to simply “get over it.” You are supposed to be supported through it.

How to Choose the Best Oncologist in Valasaravakkam

Qualifications to Look For

For a surgical oncologist, look for M.S. in General Surgery followed by M.Ch in Surgical Oncology, these are the gold standard postgraduate qualifications in India. Additional fellowships in robotic or laparoscopic surgery, and certifications from international bodies, indicate a specialist who is continuing to develop their skills beyond the basic qualification. For a medical oncologist, look for M.D. in Internal Medicine or Radiotherapy followed by D.M. in Medical Oncology.

Questions to Ask your Oncologist

Before you commit to a treatment plan, ask:

How many times have you treated this type and stage of cancer? What is the goal of this treatment, cure, control, or comfort? What side effects should I expect, and how will you help me manage them? Is surgery definitely necessary, or are there non surgical options? Who do I contact if something feels wrong on a weekend?

These are not difficult questions. They are the questions any good oncologist will welcome, because they show that you are engaged in your own care.

Why Choosing a Local Oncologist Matters

There is a practical reality to cancer treatment that doesn’t get discussed enough: it is exhausting. Chemotherapy sessions leave patients drained. Post surgery recovery requires frequent clinic visits. Follow up scans happen repeatedly over years. When your oncologist is 20 minutes away rather than 90, that difference is felt every single week. It means you’re more likely to come in when you feel something is wrong, rather than tolerating symptoms because the journey feels too hard. It means your family can accompany you without losing an entire workday. It means that the relationship with your doctor, which matters enormously in cancer care, can develop properly. For families in Valasaravakkam, Ramapuram, Alwarthirunagar, and Porur, choosing a specialist at SRM Prime Hospitals is choosing world class care that is also, genuinely, close to home.

Conclusion

If you’ve read this far, you are already doing something important, you are looking for answers, for understanding, for a path through something that feels overwhelming. That is the first step. The next one is a conversation. Dr. Senthil Kumar Ravichander and his team at SRM Prime Hospitals, Ramapuram are here for exactly this moment, whether you’ve just been diagnosed, whether you’re worried about a symptom, or whether you want a second opinion on a treatment plan you’ve already received. You will not be rushed. You will not be confused. You will leave understanding your situation better than when you arrived.