How to Plan Breast Cancer Treatment in India: A Step-by-Step Guide for International Patients

From submitting your reports remotely on day one to returning home with full documentation — this guide walks you through every step of arranging breast cancer treatment in India, including the medical visa process, what to bring, what happens in the first 48 hours, and how continuity of care works when you go home.

By Gaf Healthcare Editorial Team

2026-05-09

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<span class="meta-tag">Patient Guide · Medical Tourism · India</span>

<h1>How to Plan Breast Cancer Treatment in India: A Step-by-Step Guide for International Patients</h1>

<p class="deck">The logistics feel overwhelming at first. A foreign country, an unfamiliar hospital system, a diagnosis that cannot wait. But patients from Nigeria, Kenya, the UAE, and Bangladesh do this every week — and the process, once you understand it, is far more manageable than it looks from the outside.</p>

<div class="illustration-wrap"> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 160" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" role="img" aria-label="Horizontal timeline diagram showing the six stages of planning breast cancer treatment in India for international patients. From left to right: Stage 1 is labelled Submit Reports, with a duration of Day 1. Stage 2 is labelled Receive Treatment Plan, with a duration of Day 2 to 3. Stage 3 is labelled Apply for Visa, with a duration of Week 1 to 2. Stage 4 is labelled Travel to India, shown at the midpoint. Stage 5 is labelled Surgery and Treatment, with a duration of Week 2 to 6 depending on procedure. Stage 6 is labelled Return Home, with a full documentation handoff. Each stage is represented by a numbered circle connected by a horizontal line, with a label above and a timeframe below. The overall timeline from first contact to return home is shown as 3 to 8 weeks depending on the treatment required."> <defs> <linearGradient id="bgJourney" x1="0" y1="0" x2="1" y2="0"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#EDE9DF"/> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#E4DFCF"/> </linearGradient> </defs> <rect width="700" height="160" fill="url(#bgJourney)"/>

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<circle cx="60" cy="80" r="18" fill="#1B5E3B"/> <text x="60" y="85" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="13" font-weight="700" fill="#fff">1</text> <text x="60" y="44" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="11" font-weight="600" fill="#1B5E3B">Submit</text> <text x="60" y="56" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="11" font-weight="600" fill="#1B5E3B">Reports</text> <text x="60" y="114" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="10" fill="#6B6860">Day 1</text>

<circle cx="172" cy="80" r="18" fill="#1B5E3B"/> <text x="172" y="85" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="13" font-weight="700" fill="#fff">2</text> <text x="172" y="44" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="11" font-weight="600" fill="#1B5E3B">Treatment</text> <text x="172" y="56" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="11" font-weight="600" fill="#1B5E3B">Plan</text> <text x="172" y="114" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="10" fill="#6B6860">Day 2–3</text>

<circle cx="284" cy="80" r="18" fill="#2D7A52"/> <text x="284" y="85" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="13" font-weight="700" fill="#fff">3</text> <text x="284" y="44" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="11" font-weight="600" fill="#2D7A52">Visa &</text> <text x="284" y="56" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="11" font-weight="600" fill="#2D7A52">Logistics</text> <text x="284" y="114" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="10" fill="#6B6860">Week 1–2</text>

<circle cx="396" cy="80" r="18" fill="#2D7A52"/> <text x="396" y="85" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="13" font-weight="700" fill="#fff">4</text> <text x="396" y="44" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="11" font-weight="600" fill="#2D7A52">Arrive</text> <text x="396" y="56" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="11" font-weight="600" fill="#2D7A52">in India</text> <text x="396" y="114" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="10" fill="#6B6860">Week 2–3</text>

<circle cx="508" cy="80" r="18" fill="#B07A15"/> <text x="508" y="85" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="13" font-weight="700" fill="#fff">5</text> <text x="508" y="44" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="11" font-weight="600" fill="#B07A15">Surgery &</text> <text x="508" y="56" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="11" font-weight="600" fill="#B07A15">Treatment</text> <text x="508" y="114" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="10" fill="#6B6860">Week 3–6</text>

<circle cx="640" cy="80" r="18" fill="#B07A15"/> <text x="640" y="85" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="13" font-weight="700" fill="#fff">6</text> <text x="640" y="44" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="11" font-weight="600" fill="#B07A15">Return</text> <text x="640" y="56" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="11" font-weight="600" fill="#B07A15">Home</text> <text x="640" y="114" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="10" fill="#6B6860">Week 4–8</text>

<text x="350" y="144" text-anchor="middle" font-family="'Source Sans 3',sans-serif" font-size="11" fill="#6B6860">Total journey from first contact to return home: 3–8 weeks depending on treatment required</text> </svg> <p class="img-caption">The typical patient journey for breast cancer treatment in India — from submitting reports remotely on day one to returning home with full documentation. Most patients spend two to four weeks in India for the surgical episode. Systemic therapy can continue locally after discharge, coordinated between the Indian oncology team and the patient's home doctor.</p> </div>

<div class="toc-box"> <div class="toc-label">What's in this guide</div> <ol> <li><a href="#before-you-travel">Before you travel — what happens remotely</a></li> <li><a href="#visa">The Indian medical visa — who gets one and how</a></li> <li><a href="#travel">Getting to India — flights, airports, and what to expect</a></li> <li><a href="#on-arrival">On arrival — the first 48 hours</a></li> <li><a href="#during-treatment">During treatment — surgery, recovery, and what to expect</a></li> <li><a href="#going-home">Going home — documentation and continuity of care</a></li> <li><a href="#what-to-bring">What to bring — the pre-departure checklist</a></li> </ol> </div>

<h2 id="before-you-travel">Before you travel — what happens remotely</h2>

<p>The single most important thing to understand about breast cancer treatment in India is that the process begins before you pack a bag. Everything up to and including your treatment plan, hospital choice, and cost estimate is resolved remotely — in your home country, before you book a flight.</p>

<p>This matters because it removes the anxiety of arriving in an unfamiliar city without knowing what comes next.</p>

<div class="quick-box"> <div class="qa-label">Quick answer</div> <div class="qa-question">How long does the remote process take before I need to travel?</div> <div class="qa-answer">From submitting your reports to having a confirmed treatment plan and hospital quote takes <strong>two to five days</strong> in most cases. Visa processing then takes five to ten working days for most African and Gulf nationalities. Most patients travel to India within two to three weeks of first contact with GAF Healthcare — with everything confirmed before they leave home.</div> </div>

<div class="timeline"> <div class="timeline-item"> <div class="timeline-left"> <div class="timeline-dot">1</div> <div class="timeline-line"></div> </div> <div class="timeline-content"> <div class="step-label">Remote Step 1</div> <div class="time-badge">Day 1</div> <h3>Submit your medical reports</h3> <p>Send your biopsy report, receptor status (ER, PR, HER2), staging scan reports, and any existing treatment summary to GAF Healthcare. You do not need all of these — share what you have.</p> <p><strong>What to send:</strong></p> <ul class="checklist"> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>Pathology / biopsy report with receptor status</li> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>Breast MRI or ultrasound report</li> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>CT or PET-CT staging scan (if done)</li> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>Any previous treatment summary or discharge letter</li> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>Your current oncologist's treatment recommendation (if any)</li> </ul> </div> </div>

<div class="timeline-item"> <div class="timeline-left"> <div class="timeline-dot">2</div> <div class="timeline-line"></div> </div> <div class="timeline-content"> <div class="step-label">Remote Step 2</div> <div class="time-badge">Day 2–3</div> <h3>Receive your treatment plan and hospital recommendation</h3> <p>GAF Healthcare's medical team reviews your case and identifies the right treatment pathway — surgery type, drug regimen, radiation indication. Where your case is complex, we escalate to a senior oncologist at a partner hospital for remote review.</p> <p>You receive a clear recommendation — which hospital, which surgical approach, which systemic therapy — with a written rationale. Not a list of options with no guidance. A recommendation.</p> </div> </div>

<div class="timeline-item"> <div class="timeline-left"> <div class="timeline-dot">3</div> <div class="timeline-line"></div> </div> <div class="timeline-content"> <div class="step-label">Remote Step 3</div> <div class="time-badge">Day 3–5</div> <h3>Receive itemised cost estimates</h3> <p>We request quotes from two to three shortlisted hospitals. You receive a side-by-side breakdown — surgery, anaesthesia, hospital stay, drugs, pathology — so you can compare both cost and capability.</p> <p><strong>No hidden costs. No facility fee surprises.</strong> If additional procedures are identified after surgery, they are quoted separately before proceeding. You confirm the hospital that suits you, and we proceed to logistics.</p> </div> </div> </div>

<div class="cta-b"> <p class="cta-h">Ready to start the remote process? It takes less than 24 hours to get a plan.</p> <p class="cta-s">Share your diagnosis details with our team. We will review your case, recommend the right hospital, and give you an itemised cost estimate — at no charge, within 24 hours.</p> <a href="https://gafhealthcare.in/contact" class="btn-green">Submit My Reports →</a> </div>

<h2 id="visa">The Indian medical visa — who gets one and how</h2>

<p>The Indian medical visa is a separate visa category — distinct from a tourist or business visa — specifically designed for patients travelling to India for treatment. It is issued for the duration of treatment and covers up to two accompanying family members on an attendant visa.</p>

<p>For most African and Gulf nationalities, processing takes five to ten working days. It is significantly faster and more reliably granted than equivalent medical visas for the US or UK.</p>

<table class="visa-table"> <thead> <tr> <th>Country</th> <th>Typical processing time</th> <th>Attendant visa (family)</th> <th>GAF Healthcare support</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://gafhealthcare.in/nigeria/treatment-in-india" style="color:var(--green-mid);text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:var(--green-border);">Nigeria</a></td> <td>5–8 working days</td> <td class="yes">✓ Up to 2 attendants</td> <td class="yes">✓ Invitation letter issued</td> </tr> <tr class="highlight"> <td><a href="https://gafhealthcare.in/kenya/treatment-in-india" style="color:var(--green-mid);text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:var(--green-border);">Kenya</a></td> <td>5–7 working days</td> <td class="yes">✓ Up to 2 attendants</td> <td class="yes">✓ Invitation letter issued</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://gafhealthcare.in/ghana/treatment-in-india" style="color:var(--green-mid);text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:var(--green-border);">Ghana</a></td> <td>6–10 working days</td> <td class="yes">✓ Up to 2 attendants</td> <td class="yes">✓ Invitation letter issued</td> </tr> <tr class="highlight"> <td><a href="https://gafhealthcare.in/tanzania/treatment-in-india" style="color:var(--green-mid);text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:var(--green-border);">Tanzania</a></td> <td>5–8 working days</td> <td class="yes">✓ Up to 2 attendants</td> <td class="yes">✓ Invitation letter issued</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://gafhealthcare.in/zambia/treatment-in-india" style="color:var(--green-mid);text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:var(--green-border);">Zambia</a></td> <td>6–9 working days</td> <td class="yes">✓ Up to 2 attendants</td> <td class="yes">✓ Invitation letter issued</td> </tr> <tr class="highlight"> <td><a href="https://gafhealthcare.in/bangladesh/treatment-in-india" style="color:var(--green-mid);text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:var(--green-border);">Bangladesh</a></td> <td>3–5 working days</td> <td class="yes">✓ Up to 2 attendants</td> <td class="yes">✓ Invitation letter issued</td> </tr> <tr> <td>UAE / Saudi Arabia / Oman</td> <td>3–6 working days</td> <td class="yes">✓ Up to 2 attendants</td> <td class="yes">✓ Invitation letter issued</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p class="sources-line">Processing times are estimates based on GAF Healthcare patient experience, 2024–2025. Individual cases may vary.</p>

<p>GAF Healthcare provides the hospital invitation letter required for every medical visa application — issued within 24 hours of treatment confirmation. We also guide you through the application form, document checklist, and submission process for your specific country.</p>

<div class="callout-amber"> <div class="callout-label">Apply for the visa as soon as the hospital is confirmed</div> <p>Do not wait until you have a surgical date to apply for the visa. Apply immediately after you confirm the hospital — typically on day four or five of the process. This keeps the visa processing running in parallel with pre-surgical scheduling, so you do not lose time. The medical visa is valid for one year with multiple entries, which is useful for patients who need to return for follow-up or subsequent treatment cycles.</p> </div>

<h2 id="travel">Getting to India — flights, airports, and what to expect</h2>

<p>Both Delhi and Mumbai — where the four GAF Healthcare partner hospitals are located — have major international airports with direct or one-stop connections from most African and Gulf cities.</p>

<div class="stat-strip"> <div class="stat-cell"><div class="stat-label">Lagos → Delhi (direct)</div><div class="stat-val">~9 hrs</div></div> <div class="stat-cell"><div class="stat-label">Nairobi → Mumbai (direct)</div><div class="stat-val">~5 hrs</div></div> <div class="stat-cell"><div class="stat-label">Dubai → Delhi (direct)</div><div class="stat-val">~3 hrs</div></div> <div class="stat-cell"><div class="stat-label">Dhaka → Delhi (direct)</div><div class="stat-val">~2 hrs</div></div> </div>

<p>Patients heading to <a href="https://gafhealthcare.in/hospitals/apollo-hospitals-new-delhi" style="color:var(--green-mid);text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:var(--green-border);">Apollo</a>, <a href="https://gafhealthcare.in/hospitals/fortis-memorial-research-institute-gurgaon" style="color:var(--green-mid);text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:var(--green-border);">Fortis Memorial</a>, or <a href="https://gafhealthcare.in/hospitals/medanta-the-medicity-gurgaon" style="color:var(--green-mid);text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:var(--green-border);">Medanta</a> fly into Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi. Patients heading to <a href="https://gafhealthcare.in/hospitals/tata-memorial-hospital-mumbai" style="color:var(--green-mid);text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:var(--green-border);">Tata Memorial</a> fly into Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai.</p>

<p>GAF Healthcare arranges airport transfer for every patient — a driver holding a namecard at arrivals, a vehicle that fits your luggage and any family members travelling with you, and a direct transfer to your accommodation or directly to the hospital if your admission is the same day.</p>

<div class="callout-green"> <div class="callout-label">Accommodation near each hospital</div> <p>Each GAF Healthcare partner hospital has accommodation options within walking distance or a short drive — ranging from budget guesthouses to comfortable serviced apartments. We provide a shortlist based on your budget and preference. Patients who need dietary accommodation for religious or medical reasons (halal food, vegetarian meals, diabetic-friendly options) can confirm this in advance — all four hospitals and most nearby accommodation providers are familiar with these requirements.</p> </div>

<div class="cta-a"> <p class="cta-h">We handle the logistics. You focus on getting well.</p> <p class="cta-s">Airport transfer, accommodation guidance, visa invitation letter, pre-surgical scheduling, and hospital coordination — GAF Healthcare manages all of it. At no charge to you.</p> <a href="https://gafhealthcare.in/contact" class="btn-white">Start the Process →</a> </div>

<h2 id="on-arrival">On arrival — the first 48 hours</h2>

<p>The first 48 hours in India are the most logistically intensive — and the most important to have planned in advance. When this period is well-coordinated, patients arrive feeling looked after rather than overwhelmed.</p>

<div class="timeline"> <div class="timeline-item"> <div class="timeline-left"> <div class="timeline-dot">4</div> <div class="timeline-line"></div> </div> <div class="timeline-content"> <div class="step-label">Arrival</div> <div class="time-badge">Day of arrival</div> <h3>Airport transfer and check-in</h3> <p>Your GAF Healthcare coordinator meets you at arrivals or confirms your driver is in place before you land. Transfer to accommodation or directly to the hospital depending on your admission schedule. <strong>No navigating an unfamiliar city independently.</strong></p> <p>If you are arriving the evening before your first hospital appointment, use this time to rest. The pre-surgical workup the next day is not physically demanding, but being rested matters for blood test accuracy and anaesthesia assessment.</p> </div> </div>

<div class="timeline-item"> <div class="timeline-left"> <div class="timeline-dot">5</div> <div class="timeline-line"></div> </div> <div class="timeline-content"> <div class="step-label">Day 1–2 in India</div> <div class="time-badge">Within 48 hours of arrival</div> <h3>Pre-surgical workup</h3> <p>The pre-surgical workup is completed within 24 to 48 hours of arrival at all four GAF Healthcare partner hospitals. It typically includes:</p> <ul class="checklist"> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>Full blood panel including clotting and liver function</li> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>ECG and cardiac clearance</li> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>Anaesthesia assessment and pre-operative consultation</li> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>Review of all submitted imaging by the India-based radiologist</li> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>Surgical oncologist consultation — confirmation of surgical plan</li> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>If reconstruction: plastic surgeon consultation and marking</li> </ul> <p>If any of your staging scans need to be repeated or supplemented (for example, if the images are low resolution or more than six weeks old), this is done at this stage. Additional scans are quoted separately and completed within 24 hours.</p> </div> </div> </div>

<p class="impact">"I arrived on a Sunday evening. By Tuesday morning I had met the surgeon, had my blood tests and ECG done, and had a confirmed surgical date for Thursday. The efficiency of it surprised me — there was no waiting around."</p>

<h2 id="during-treatment">During treatment — surgery, recovery, and what to expect</h2>

<p>Surgery at all four GAF Healthcare partner hospitals follows international pre-operative and post-operative protocols. Here is what the experience looks like depending on your procedure.</p>

<div class="callout-green"> <div class="callout-label">Lumpectomy — typical timeline</div> <p><strong>Surgery duration:</strong> 1.5–3 hours. <strong>Hospital stay:</strong> 1–2 nights. <strong>Drain removal:</strong> Usually before discharge or at a 5–7 day follow-up. <strong>Fit to fly:</strong> Day 10–14 post-surgery for most patients. Radiation therapy (if indicated) can be planned to start after you return home, or completed in India over 3–5 weeks before departure.</p> </div>

<div class="callout-green"> <div class="callout-label">Mastectomy (without reconstruction) — typical timeline</div> <p><strong>Surgery duration:</strong> 2–3 hours. <strong>Hospital stay:</strong> 3–4 nights. <strong>Drain removal:</strong> Day 7–10, at a post-operative follow-up. <strong>Fit to fly:</strong> Day 14–21 post-surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapy or targeted therapy is initiated either in India before departure, or coordinated with your home oncologist for continuation locally.</p> </div>

<div class="callout-green"> <div class="callout-label">Mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction — typical timeline</div> <p><strong>Surgery duration:</strong> 6–10 hours (combined oncological and reconstructive procedure). <strong>Hospital stay:</strong> 5–7 nights. <strong>Recovery in India:</strong> 3–4 weeks total before fit-to-fly status. <strong>Fit to fly:</strong> Day 21–28 post-surgery. This is the procedure that requires the longest India stay — plan for four weeks minimum if DIEP reconstruction is part of your plan.</p> </div>

<p>Throughout your hospital stay, your GAF Healthcare coordinator remains reachable for any questions — about medications, discharge timing, follow-up scheduling, or practical matters like food delivery or sim card access.</p>

<div class="callout-red"> <div class="callout-label">If chemotherapy is part of your plan</div> <p>Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (before surgery) typically runs six to eight cycles over 18–24 weeks. Most patients in this situation complete their chemotherapy in India — both for quality control and to avoid gaps in the treatment sequence. GAF Healthcare arranges furnished accommodation near the hospital for the chemotherapy period. Some patients return home between cycles and come back to India for each infusion — feasible for patients from the Gulf, less so for those from Africa. We help you decide which model makes sense for your situation and budget.</p> </div>

<a href="https://gafhealthcare.in/treatments/breast-cancer-treatment" class="cta-c"> <div class="cta-arrow">→</div> <div> <div class="rl-label">Full Breast Cancer Treatment Guide — GAF Healthcare</div> <div class="rl-desc">All treatment pathways by stage and subtype — surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation, recovery timelines, and complete cost guidance.</div> </div> </a>

<h2 id="going-home">Going home — documentation and continuity of care</h2>

<p>The handoff when you leave India is as important as the treatment itself. A patient who returns home without clear documentation — a discharge summary that her local oncologist can actually use, a drug plan with generic names not brand names, a follow-up schedule that her local facility can implement — effectively ends up starting over.</p>

<p>GAF Healthcare ensures this does not happen.</p>

<p>Every patient discharged from a GAF Healthcare partner hospital receives the following documentation package, prepared in English and internationally formatted:</p>

<ul class="checklist"> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>Complete surgical record including procedure details, tissue removed, and margin status</li> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>Final pathology report including full receptor status and histological grade</li> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>Post-operative imaging reports if applicable</li> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>Discharge summary written for the receiving oncologist — not just for the patient</li> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>Adjuvant treatment plan: drug names (generic and brand), doses, cycle schedule, and monitoring requirements</li> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>Follow-up scan schedule — what scans are needed and when</li> <li><span class="check-icon"></span>Contact details for the Indian oncologist for remote queries from your local doctor</li> </ul>

<p>GAF Healthcare follows up with patients at 30 days and 90 days post-discharge — a brief check-in to confirm that adjuvant therapy has started, that local follow-up is in place, and that any questions from the home oncologist are answered.</p>

<div class="callout-amber"> <div class="callout-label">Returning to India for monitoring and follow-up</div> <p>Many patients return to India once or twice a year for monitoring scans and oncology review — particularly those on long-term targeted therapy or endocrine therapy. A PET-CT scan that costs $5,000 in the US costs $400–$650 in India. A full monitoring visit — scan, oncology consultation, blood panel — costs $600–$900 in India inclusive. For patients on long-term treatment, building two India visits per year into the care plan is economically rational even accounting for flights.</p> </div>

<div class="cta-b"> <p class="cta-h">Already treated elsewhere and looking for monitoring or second-line treatment in India?</p> <p class="cta-s">GAF Healthcare works with patients at any stage of their treatment journey — including those who have already had surgery or chemotherapy elsewhere and need expert review, monitoring, or access to therapies not available at home.</p> <a href="https://gafhealthcare.in/contact" class="btn-green">Discuss My Situation →</a> </div>

<h2 id="what-to-bring">What to bring — the pre-departure checklist</h2>

<p>The documents you bring are more important than anything you pack. The practical items list is short — India has everything you need available locally, and hospitals provide most of what you need during your stay.</p>

<div class="pack-grid"> <div class="pack-card"> <h4>📄 Medical Documents</h4> <ul> <li>All biopsy and pathology reports (original + copies)</li> <li>All imaging — MRI, CT, PET-CT — on CD or USB</li> <li>Blood test results from the past three months</li> <li>Current medication list with doses</li> <li>Any previous surgical records</li> <li>Referral letter from your current doctor (if applicable)</li> <li>Vaccination records (especially yellow fever card for African patients)</li> </ul> </div> <div class="pack-card"> <h4>📋 Administrative Documents</h4> <ul> <li>Passport (valid for 6+ months beyond travel dates)</li> <li>Medical visa (patient) and attendant visa (family)</li> <li>Hospital appointment confirmation from GAF Healthcare</li> <li>Travel insurance documentation</li> <li>Emergency contact list</li> <li>GAF Healthcare coordinator's phone number (saved offline)</li> <li>Copies of all documents stored separately from originals</li> </ul> </div> <div class="pack-card"> <h4>💊 Medications</h4> <ul> <li>Carry enough of any regular medications for the full trip plus two weeks extra</li> <li>Bring medications in original packaging with pharmacy labels</li> <li>Carry a prescription letter in English for controlled medications</li> <li>Do not pack medications in checked luggage</li> <li>Most common drugs are available in India — your coordinator can help source anything needed locally</li> </ul> </div> <div class="pack-card"> <h4>🧳 Practical Items</h4> <ul> <li>Loose, comfortable clothing — front-opening tops are ideal post-surgery</li> <li>Slip-on shoes (bending may be restricted after surgery)</li> <li>Small pillow for chest support during the flight home</li> <li>Entertainment for recovery — books, downloaded shows</li> <li>Universal power adapter (India uses Type C, D, and M plugs)</li> <li>Familiar foods or snacks from home if dietary habits are specific</li> </ul> </div> </div>

<div class="callout-green"> <div class="callout-label">A note on travelling home after surgery</div> <p>Most airlines require a fit-to-fly certificate for passengers who have had surgery within the previous four to six weeks. Your Indian hospital provides this at discharge. For flights longer than six hours, your surgeon may recommend compression stockings and specific movement protocols to reduce DVT risk. GAF Healthcare provides a standard fit-to-fly letter template to the hospital for every patient — so this is not a document you need to request yourself. It is prepared as part of your discharge pack.</p> </div>

<div class="cta-a"> <p class="cta-h">Ready to start planning? The process begins with one conversation.</p> <p class="cta-s">Share your diagnosis details with GAF Healthcare. We will review your case, recommend the right hospital, give you a cost estimate, handle your visa invitation letter, arrange your airport transfer, and coordinate everything through to discharge — at no charge to you.</p> <a href="https://gafhealthcare.in/contact" class="btn-white">Start My Free Consultation →</a> </div>

<a href="https://gafhealthcare.in/treatments/breast-cancer-treatment" class="cta-c"> <div class="cta-arrow">→</div> <div> <div class="rl-label">Full Breast Cancer Treatment Guide — GAF Healthcare</div> <div class="rl-desc">Surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation, costs, and recovery explained in full — everything international patients need to plan breast cancer treatment in India.</div> </div> </a>

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