Colorectal Cancer Treatment in Mumbai

Colorectal cancer, cancer of the colon or rectum, usually comes to light after bleeding, a change in bowel habit or a colonoscopy. A diagnosis brings many questions at once: what surgery will be needed, will chemotherapy or radiation follow, and will a stoma be necessary? This guide explains how colorectal cancer is usually treated in Mumbai, the side effects people commonly face, and how complementary homeopathic care at Welling Homeopathy can support you through treatment and recovery.

Written by Dr. Sourabh Welling, founder of Welling Homeopathy, who has over 25 years of experience treating patients. Last updated 21 October 2026. This article is for general information and does not replace a medical assessment.

This page explains what treatment usually involves, the side effects people commonly face, and how complementary homeopathic cancer care at Welling Homeopathy can sit alongside – never in place of – the plan made by your oncology team.

How colorectal cancer is usually treated

Treatment is planned by a team of surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists, and depends on the stage, on whether the cancer is in the colon or the rectum, and on your general health. The main components are:

• Surgery – removal of the tumour with the affected part of the colon or rectum and nearby lymph nodes. Some rectal operations need a temporary or, less often, a permanent stoma.
• Chemotherapy – drug combinations such as CAPOX or FOLFOX are given after surgery in some stage III cancers, and for advanced disease.
• Radiation therapy and chemoradiation – used mainly for rectal cancer, often before surgery, to shrink the tumour and lower the chance of local recurrence.
• Targeted therapy and immunotherapy – options for selected advanced cancers, chosen after tests on the tumour such as RAS, BRAF and MSI status.
• Follow-up – regular CEA blood tests, scans and colonoscopy to watch for any return.

Common side effects of treatment

Side effects differ from person to person and depend on the drugs, doses and your general health. Your oncology team can often prevent or reduce many of them with medicines and supportive measures, so always report symptoms early.

Chemotherapy (colorectal regimens)

• Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Mouth sores and taste changes
• Tiredness and low blood counts, with a higher risk of infection
• Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, and sensitivity to cold with oxaliplatin
• Hand-foot syndrome (red, sore palms and soles) with capecitabine

Radiation therapy

• Frequent or urgent loose stools and rectal irritation
• Soreness or redness of the skin in the treated area
• Bladder irritation and a burning feeling on passing urine
• Tiredness that builds up during the course

After surgery and stoma care

• Pain and tiredness while the wound heals
• Changes in bowel habit, including frequent stools after rectal surgery
• Skin irritation around a stoma and the adjustment to living with one
• Worry about body image, which is common and deserves attention

How complementary homeopathic care fits in

Complementary care means supportive treatment given together with your oncology treatment. At Welling Homeopathy the aim is to help you feel as well as possible during and after treatment: easing symptoms and side effects where we can, supporting appetite, energy and sleep, and helping you keep up your quality of life so that you can carry on with the treatment your doctors have planned.

What does the research say? Research on homeopathy for the side effects of cancer treatment is limited. A few small studies of particular remedies (for example for radiation skin reactions or mouth sores) have been reported, but good-quality evidence is lacking, and homeopathy has not been shown to treat or cure cancer. For this reason we use homeopathic care only as a complement, and never as a replacement for surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted, hormonal or immune therapy, or for the advice of your oncologist.

ImmunoKnife™ Homeopathy Treatment Process

ImmunoKnife™ is the speciality homeopathic treatment process for cancers developed by Dr. Sourabh Welling at Welling Research Labs in Mumbai and practised at the Welling cancer clinics. Our approach looks at the whole person – the cancer, the treatment you are having, your symptoms and your constitution – and is aimed at easing bowel symptoms, nausea, weakness and poor appetite, and at supporting quality of life during and after treatment. It is offered as supportive care around your oncology treatment, and your oncologist should always be told about it.

Over 25 years of experience treating patients

Dr. Sourabh Welling, founder of Welling Homeopathy, has been treating patients for more than 25 years, including people living with cancer and going through chemotherapy and radiation. In a first consultation he and his team take a detailed history – your diagnosis and treatment plan, your symptoms, your past health and your personality – so that supportive care is planned around you and not around a standard list.

Practical ways to feel better during treatment

• Eat small, frequent meals – simple food such as khichdi, dal soup, curd rice and bananas is often easier than heavy or fried food.
• Fluids – sip water, coconut water or ORS through the day, especially if you have diarrhoea or a stoma.
• Adjust fibre as advised – your team or dietitian will tell you when to eat more fibre and when to limit it, for example after surgery or during radiation.
• Learn stoma care early – a stoma nurse can teach you to manage the appliance and protect the skin.
• Protect the skin – use only the creams approved by your radiation or stoma team.
• Keep gently active – short daily walks help tiredness, digestion and mood.
• Keep your follow-up – attend scheduled colonoscopy, CEA tests and scans, and ask your doctor whether close relatives should be screened.

When to call your oncologist or go to hospital urgently

Do not wait for a homeopathic appointment if you have any of the following – contact your oncology team or go to the nearest hospital:

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or above, or shivering, during chemotherapy
• Severe abdominal pain or swelling, with vomiting and being unable to pass stool or gas
• Heavy rectal bleeding or black stools
• Diarrhoea that leaves you dizzy, dry-mouthed or passing very little urine
• A stoma that turns dark or purple or stops working
• Chest pain, breathlessness, or a painful swollen leg

Consultation in Mumbai

Many people in Mumbai travel a long way to hospital for surgery, chemotherapy or radiation, and arrive worn out. We plan supportive visits around your treatment schedule and offer online consultations between visits so that you do not have to make extra journeys. You can meet us at our Mumbai clinics (see the Contact page for current addresses and hours), or consult online from wherever you are being treated. Please bring your reports, your treatment plan and a list of everything you are taking.

Frequently asked questions

Can homeopathy cure colorectal cancer?

No. Homeopathy has not been shown to cure or treat colorectal cancer, and we do not claim that it does. At Welling Homeopathy it is used only as supportive, complementary care alongside surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or other treatment planned by your oncology team.

What are the early symptoms of colorectal cancer?

Blood in the stool, a lasting change in bowel habit, abdominal pain or bloating, a feeling of incomplete emptying, unexplained weight loss and tiredness from anaemia. These also occur in piles and other conditions, but any persistent change should be checked by a doctor and not put down to piles.

Is it safe to take homeopathic medicines during chemotherapy?

Homeopathic medicines are highly diluted and are not known to interfere with chemotherapy, but you should always tell your oncologist about everything you are taking, and never stop or delay prescribed treatment.

Can complementary care help with diarrhoea, nausea or tiredness during treatment?

Our aim is to ease these symptoms and support appetite, energy and sleep so that treatment is easier to tolerate. Results vary from person to person and good-quality research is limited, which is why we describe it as supportive care only.

Who should be screened for colorectal cancer?

Screening usually begins around the age of 45 to 50, and earlier if close relatives have had colorectal cancer or if you have long-standing ulcerative colitis or polyps. Ask your doctor which test and what age suit you.

How do I book a consultation in Mumbai?

Call +91 8080 850 950 to book a 1:1 consultation at one of our Mumbai clinics or online. Please bring your colonoscopy, biopsy and scan reports and your treatment plan.

Learn more

• All cancer treatment guides for Mumbai
• Homeopathy Specialist for Cancer – our cancer treatment programme
• Treatment of Colon-Rectal Cancer
• Bowel Cancer Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
• Prostate Cancer Treatment in Mumbai

Disclaimer: this page is for information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Homeopathy is offered as complementary, supportive care only; it is not claimed to treat or cure cancer. Please follow your oncologist’s advice and do not stop or change any prescribed treatment without consulting them.

More on cancer care in Mumbai

• Cancer Treatment Guides for Mumbai
• Homeopathy Specialist for Cancer
• Breast Cancer Treatment in Mumbai
• Lung Cancer Treatment in Mumbai
• Prostate Cancer Treatment in Mumbai
• Ovarian Cancer Treatment in Mumbai
• Colorectal Cancer Treatment in Mumbai
• Pancreatic Cancer Treatment in Mumbai
• Blood Cancer Treatment in Mumbai

Supportive homeopathic care for colorectal cancer at Welling Homeopathy, Mumbai

Homeopathic care at Welling Homeopathy is offered as supportive, complementary care alongside your oncology treatment, never in place of it. You can consult Dr. Sourabh Welling, M.D., and the senior specialists at our Mumbai clinics, or online from anywhere. Please bring your reports and treatment plan. See the Contact page for current clinic addresses and hours, or call +91 8080 850 950.

Colorectal cancer: more questions answered

1. What are the risk factors for colorectal cancer?

Age, polyps, a family history, inflammatory bowel disease, a diet high in red and processed meat, obesity, smoking and alcohol.

2. When should screening start?

Usually from 45 to 50 with a colonoscopy or stool test; earlier if there is a family history.

3. How is colorectal cancer diagnosed?

With a colonoscopy and biopsy, followed by CT and blood tests such as CEA to stage it.

4. What should I eat during treatment for colorectal cancer?

Small, frequent meals with enough protein, plenty of fluids and fruit and vegetables, adjusted to side effects such as nausea or mouth sores; a dietitian can personalise the plan.

5. When is fever during treatment an emergency?

Fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or above during chemotherapy needs urgent hospital care, as does uncontrolled vomiting, severe pain, bleeding or breathlessness.

6. How often is follow-up needed after treatment for colorectal cancer?

Usually every three to six months for the first two years, then less often; your oncologist will give you a schedule.