Radiation Oncology in Raipur: What Patients Need to Know

Radiation therapy is available in Raipur. At the American Oncology Institute (AOI-BCR), Jora, Raipur, Dr. Ashutosh Das Sharma provides radiation oncology consultation, treatment planning, and radiation therapy for cancer patients across Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, and Chhattisgarh. You do not need to travel to Mumbai or Hyderabad for this treatment.

When a patient in Chhattisgarh hears the words "radiation therapy," the first reaction is almost always fear — followed by confusion. What exactly is radiation? Will it hurt? Will I lose my hair? Do I need to leave Raipur for this?

In this blog, I want to answer every question I hear in my OPD — plainly, directly, and without medical jargon. Because an informed patient is a calmer patient. And a calmer patient recovers better.

What Is Radiation Therapy — and How Does It Work?

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays — similar to X-rays but far more powerful — to destroy cancer cells or prevent them from multiplying. Cancer cells divide rapidly and uncontrollably. Radiation damages the DNA inside these cells, stopping them from dividing and causing them to die.

Healthy cells around the tumour are also affected — but unlike cancer cells, they have a far greater ability to repair themselves. This is the biological principle that makes radiation therapy effective: it exploits the difference between cancer cells and normal cells.

Radiation therapy can be used:

• As the primary treatment — to destroy a tumour entirely (curative intent)
• Before surgery — to shrink a tumour and make surgery easier (neoadjuvant)
• After surgery — to destroy any remaining cancer cells (adjuvant)
• Alongside chemotherapy — the two treatments together are more effective for certain cancers
• For symptom relief — to reduce pain, bleeding, or obstruction in advanced cancer (palliative)

Which Cancers Are Treated With Radiation Therapy?

Radiation therapy is used across a very wide range of cancers. In my practice at AOI-BCR Raipur, the most common cancers I treat with radiation include:

• Head and neck cancers — oral cancer, throat cancer, laryngeal cancer (very common in Chhattisgarh due to tobacco and gutka use)
• Breast cancer — often given after surgery
• Cervical cancer — one of the most common cancers in women in Chhattisgarh
• Lung cancer
• Rectal and colorectal cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Brain tumours
• Lymphomas
• Palliative radiation for bone pain, spinal cord compression, and brain metastases

What Happens During a Radiation Therapy Session?

This is what most patients want to know — and are relieved to hear.

The session itself is completely painless. You cannot feel the radiation. You lie still on a treatment table while a machine delivers precisely targeted radiation to the tumour. The machine may rotate around you — it does not touch you.

A typical session takes 15 to 30 minutes, including setup time. The actual radiation delivery is often just a few minutes. You are alone in the room during the session — the radiotherapy team watches you through a window and can hear you through an intercom at all times.

Most treatment courses run for 4 to 7 weeks, with daily sessions on weekdays. The exact number of sessions — called fractions — depends on the cancer type, stage, and the goal of treatment.

What Are the Side Effects of Radiation Therapy?

Side effects depend on which part of the body is being treated. They are caused by the effect of radiation on healthy tissue near the tumour. It is important to understand two things:

1. Not every patient experiences every side effect
2. Most side effects are temporary and manageable with the right support

Common general side effects:

• Fatigue — the most common side effect across all radiation treatments
• Skin changes in the treated area — redness, dryness, or peeling

Site-specific side effects:

• Head and neck radiation: Mouth sores, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, taste changes, skin redness
• Chest/lung radiation: Difficulty swallowing, cough, fatigue
• Abdominal radiation: Nausea, diarrhoea, cramping
• Pelvic radiation: Diarrhoea, urinary discomfort, fatigue

At AOI-BCR Raipur, we actively manage these side effects throughout your treatment — adjusting medications, diet, and supportive care as needed. You are not expected to manage these alone.

Will I Lose My Hair From Radiation Therapy?

Hair loss from radiation only occurs in the area being treated. If radiation is directed at the head or neck, hair loss in that specific area may occur. Unlike chemotherapy — where total body hair loss is common — radiation-related hair loss is localised.

In many cases, the hair grows back after treatment ends. Whether it grows back fully depends on the radiation dose and the individual patient.

Is Radiation Therapy Safe? Will I Become Radioactive?

External beam radiation therapy — the most common type — does not make you radioactive. The radiation is directed into your body from outside during the session and does not remain in your body afterwards. You can be around family members, including children, without any risk to them.

The only exception is certain types of internal radiation (brachytherapy) where a radioactive source is placed inside the body. If this applies to your treatment, your oncologist will give you specific instructions.

How Is Radiation Therapy Different From Chemotherapy?

This is one of the most common points of confusion.

• Radiation therapy is localised — it targets a specific area of the body where the cancer is located
• Chemotherapy is systemic — it travels through the bloodstream and affects the entire body

Both are effective cancer treatments — and for many cancers, they are used together for better outcomes. The choice depends on your specific cancer type and stage.

Do I Need to Travel Outside Raipur for Radiation Therapy?

No. Radiation therapy is available in Raipur at the American Oncology Institute (AOI-BCR), Jora. We have the equipment, expertise, and team to provide the same standard of radiation oncology care that patients would receive in larger cities.

Travelling to Mumbai or Hyderabad for weeks of daily radiation treatment is enormously disruptive — to work, to family, to finances. Being treated in Raipur means you stay close to your support system during one of the most challenging periods of your life.

If you have been told by someone that radiation therapy is not available in Raipur — please come and consult with me directly. The situation has changed.

A Word to Patients and Families in Chhattisgarh

The fear of radiation therapy is almost always worse than the reality of it. In 15+ years of practice as a Radiation Oncologist, I have seen patients arrive at their first session terrified — and complete their treatment far more comfortably than they imagined.

What makes the difference is information. Knowing what to expect, what is normal, and who to call when something does not feel right — these things matter as much as the treatment itself.

My team at AOI-BCR, Jora, Raipur is here to answer every question — before treatment begins, during every session, and through every follow-up appointment after. You do not face this alone.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is radiation therapy available in Raipur?
Yes. Radiation therapy is available at AOI-BCR Hospital, Jora, Raipur. Dr. Ashutosh Das Sharma provides radiation oncology consultation and treatment for cancer patients across Chhattisgarh.

Does radiation therapy cause pain?
No. The session itself is completely painless. Side effects may appear over the course of treatment but are managed by the oncology team.

How long does radiation therapy take?
Each session is 15–30 minutes. Most courses run 4–7 weeks with daily sessions on weekdays.

Will I lose all my hair?
No. Unlike chemotherapy, radiation hair loss is only in the area being treated — not total body hair loss.

Can I be around my family during radiation therapy?
Yes. External beam radiation does not make you radioactive. You can be with family including children without any risk to them.

Do I need to travel to Mumbai for radiation therapy?
No. The same quality of radiation oncology care is available at AOI-BCR Raipur — so you can be treated close to home and family.

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Medical Disclaimer: This blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. Please consult Dr. Ashutosh Das Sharma or a qualified oncologist for advice specific to your diagnosis, treatment plan, and medical history.