Oncology Department (Medical and Surgical) at Vivekananda Hospital, Begumpet
A cancer diagnosis changes everything. The first thing most families want to know is: who is the doctor, and can we trust them? At Vivekananda Hospital, the oncology department is led by Dr. R.V. Rao, who was the first qualified medical oncologist in the combined state of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He completed his DM in Medical Oncology from Adyar Cancer Institute, Chennai, in 1990, and has been treating cancer patients for over 28 years. He also holds the distinction of being the first trained haematologist in the region. For patients who need surgery to remove a tumour, Dr. Nossam Ramasubba Reddy is the surgical oncologist, with an MCh in Surgical Oncology. Chemotherapy is administered on site at the hospital. Biopsy and tumour marker testing are done in the in-house lab. Between the medical oncologist and the surgical oncologist, a cancer patient can get diagnosed, operated on, and started on chemotherapy without leaving this hospital.
(Dr. R.V. Rao)
AP and Telangana
Oncology at Vivekananda Hospital
Cancer treatment in Hyderabad is dominated by large corporate chains where the bills run high and the patient often feels like a number in a system. The oncology department at Vivekananda Hospital exists as a different option. It is a department where a cancer patient can sit with a medical oncologist who has been treating cancer for 28 years, get an honest assessment of the situation, understand the treatment options clearly, and start chemotherapy or get operated on in the same hospital without being transferred to a bigger centre for most cases.
Dr. R.V. Rao (Ravella Venkateswara Rao) is the Senior Consultant Medical Oncologist. He completed his MBBS from Gandhi Medical College, MD in General Medicine from PGIMER Chandigarh, and DM in Medical Oncology from Adyar Cancer Institute, Chennai. When he finished his DM in 1990, he became the first doctor in the combined state of Andhra Pradesh to hold a medical oncology superspeciality degree. He was also the first trained haematologist in the region. He has 46+ years of medical experience overall, with over 28 years focused on oncology. He is a member of the Indian Society of Oncology (ISO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). He also practises at KIMS Hospital in Secunderabad, so patients at Vivekananda Hospital get access to the same oncologist who consults at one of Hyderabad's top corporate hospitals. His areas of focus include solid organ cancers (breast, lung, stomach, colon, prostate), haemato-oncology (leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma), chemotherapy protocols, and immunotherapy.
Dr. Nossam Ramasubba Reddy is the Consultant Surgical Oncologist. He has an MBBS, MS in General Surgery, and MCh in Surgical Oncology. He handles tumour removal surgeries across multiple sites: breast, head-neck, gastrointestinal, gynaecological, and soft tissue. He is available on call, which means surgical oncology consultations and surgeries are scheduled based on patient need rather than a fixed OPD slot.
The department has biopsy and histopathology services in the in-house lab, tumour marker blood tests available on site, and chemotherapy administered within the hospital. For PET-CT scans, patients are referred to a partner imaging centre. Radiation therapy is not available at this hospital; patients who need it are referred to a centre that specialises in it, while their chemotherapy and surgical care continue here.
Cancers We Diagnose and Treat
Solid Organ Cancers
Gynaecological Cancers
Blood Cancers (Haemato-Oncology)
Other Cancers
Medical and Surgical Oncology Services
Medical Oncology (Dr. R.V. Rao)
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is administered on site at Vivekananda Hospital. Dr. R.V. Rao selects the regimen based on the cancer type, stage, and the patient's overall health. Each cycle is planned with proper pre-medications to control nausea and side effects. Because the hospital has an ICU and emergency department, any adverse reaction during a chemo session is managed immediately without needing a transfer.
Immunotherapy
For cancers where immunotherapy drugs are indicated, Dr. R.V. Rao prescribes and supervises the infusions. Immunotherapy works differently from chemotherapy. It helps the body's own immune system identify and attack cancer cells. It is used in certain types of lung cancer, melanoma, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and other malignancies where specific biomarkers are present.
Targeted Therapy
Some cancers have specific genetic mutations or protein markers that can be targeted with drugs designed to attack only those cells. Dr. R.V. Rao evaluates tumour molecular reports and prescribes targeted agents when the cancer profile matches. This approach often has fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy because it spares normal cells.
Haemato-Oncology (Blood Cancer Care)
Dr. R.V. Rao is the first trained haematologist in AP and Telangana. He manages leukaemia (acute and chronic), lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and myelodysplastic syndromes with chemotherapy, targeted drugs, and supportive care. Blood cancer treatment requires close monitoring of blood counts, infection prevention, and transfusion support, all of which are available at the hospital.
Cancer Pain Management
Pain is one of the most distressing symptoms for cancer patients. Dr. R.V. Rao manages cancer pain with a step-by-step approach using oral medications, injectable painkillers, and coordination with the anaesthesia team for nerve blocks when regular painkillers are not enough. The goal is to keep the patient comfortable throughout treatment.
Supportive and Palliative Care
Not every cancer is curable, but every cancer patient deserves quality of life. For patients with advanced cancer where cure is not possible, the oncology team focuses on controlling symptoms, managing nutrition, preventing infections, and keeping the patient as comfortable and functional as possible. This includes fluid drainage (pleural and ascitic), nutritional support, and infection management.
Surgical Oncology (Dr. Ramasubba Reddy)
Breast Cancer Surgery
Modified radical mastectomy, breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy with margin clearance), and axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer. The type of surgery depends on the tumour size, location, stage, and the patient's preference. Dr. Ramasubba Reddy discusses the options clearly before any decision is made.
GI Cancer Surgery
Surgical removal of cancers affecting the oesophagus, stomach, colon, and rectum. For GI cancers, the surgical oncologist works with the gastroenterology team to plan the approach. Laparoscopic resection is offered for select colorectal cancers where the stage and location allow it.
Head and Neck Cancer Surgery
Tumours in the oral cavity, tongue, jaw, throat, and larynx are removed with appropriate margins. For larger tumours, reconstruction after removal is coordinated with the maxillofacial surgery team (Dr. Ashwini Munnangi). Post-surgical follow-up and chemotherapy happen at the same hospital.
Gynaecological Cancer Surgery
Ovarian cancer debulking, hysterectomy for uterine cancer, and radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. The surgical oncologist coordinates with the obstetrics and gynaecology team for cases where a combined approach is needed.
Diagnostics
Biopsy and Histopathology
Tissue samples are collected by the relevant specialist (surgeon, gastroenterologist, ENT, or gynaecologist) and sent to the in-house lab for histopathology. The report tells you what type of cancer it is, how aggressive it is, and what the margins look like after surgery. This is the foundation of every cancer treatment plan.
Tumour Markers
Blood tests like CEA, CA 125, CA 19-9, PSA, AFP, and others are available in the in-house lab. These markers help in diagnosis, monitoring treatment response, and detecting recurrence during follow-up. Results are typically available the same day or next day.
Imaging (CT, Ultrasound, X-Ray)
CT scan is available 24/7 for staging and emergency imaging. Ultrasound and digital X-ray are also on site. For PET-CT scans, which are needed for detailed cancer staging, patients are referred to a partner imaging centre. Reports are shared directly with the oncology team.
Meet Your Oncology Team
Dr. R.V. Rao (Dr. Ravella Venkateswara Rao)
Dr. R.V. Rao is a name that most oncologists in Hyderabad know. He was the first doctor in the combined state of Andhra Pradesh to hold a DM in Medical Oncology, and the first trained haematologist in the region. He finished his DM at the Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai in 1990, which is one of the oldest and most respected cancer training institutions in India. He has been practising oncology for over 28 years and has 46+ years of total medical experience. He is a member of the Indian Society of Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He also practises at KIMS Hospital in Secunderabad, so patients at Vivekananda get the same doctor who treats cancer patients at a major corporate hospital. His focus areas are solid organ malignancies (breast, lung, GI tract, prostate), haemato-oncology (leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma), chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and cancer pain management.
Dr. Nossam Ramasubba Reddy
Dr. Ramasubba Reddy is the Consultant Surgical Oncologist at Vivekananda Hospital. He completed his MCh in Surgical Oncology after his MS in General Surgery, which means he has super-specialty surgical training specifically in cancer operations. He handles tumour removal across multiple sites: breast cancer surgery (mastectomy, lumpectomy), GI cancer resections (stomach, colon, rectum), head and neck tumour excision, gynaecological cancer surgery, and soft tissue tumour removal. He works closely with Dr. R.V. Rao to plan the treatment sequence. In many cancers, chemotherapy is given before or after surgery, and the timing of each step affects the outcome. Having both the medical oncologist and the surgical oncologist in the same hospital makes this coordination straightforward.
Why Choose Us for Cancer Care
The First Oncologist of AP and Telangana
Dr. R.V. Rao was treating cancer patients in this region before most oncology departments in Hyderabad even existed. That is not marketing language. He received his DM in 1990 when there was no other qualified medical oncologist in the state. That kind of institutional memory and case experience is something no amount of fancy equipment can replace.
Medical Oncologist + Surgical Oncologist Together
Cancer treatment usually involves both medicines (chemotherapy, immunotherapy) and surgery. At many hospitals, the medical oncologist and surgical oncologist are in different buildings or even different hospitals, and the patient shuttles between them. Here, both are in the same department. Treatment planning happens face to face, and the sequence of chemo and surgery is decided together.
Chemotherapy On Site
Chemo cycles do not need to happen at a cancer centre with a large overhead. They need to happen at a hospital with a qualified oncologist, proper infusion protocols, emergency backup, and an ICU in case of a reaction. All of that is here. Patients get their chemotherapy at Vivekananda Hospital without the higher room and service charges of a corporate oncology chain.
Biopsy and Tumour Markers In-House
The biopsy is done here. The tissue is processed here. Tumour marker blood tests are run in the same lab. You do not carry samples to an outside lab and then carry reports back to the doctor. The results go directly from the lab to the oncologist's desk.
KIMS-Level Oncologist at Lower Costs
Dr. R.V. Rao also practises at KIMS Hospital, Secunderabad. Patients at Vivekananda Hospital get the same oncologist, the same treatment protocols, and the same clinical judgment at consultation and chemotherapy costs that are lower than a large corporate chain. For a disease that requires months of treatment, this cost difference adds up.
CGHS and Insurance Cashless
Oncology consultations, chemotherapy cycles, cancer surgeries, biopsies, tumour markers, and ICU stays are available on cashless basis for CGHS, ESI, Arogyabhadratha, and over 25 private insurance companies. Cancer treatment is expensive over time. Cashless processing removes one of the biggest sources of stress for families dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Consult Our Oncologists
Contact
Call: +91 7207904418
WhatsApp: +91 7207904418
6-3-871/A, Greenlands Road, Beside CM Camp Office, Begumpet, Hyderabad 500016