Cancer Treatment in India for Patients from Serekunda, Gambia
Serekunda is the largest urban settlement in Gambia — larger than Banjul itself — and home to a significant portion of the country's population. Healthcare access in Serekunda runs through Serrekunda General Hospital and private clinics, but for cancer treatment beyond basic care, the situation is the same as everywhere in Gambia: the required treatments do not exist domestically.
Cancer patients from Serekunda who need surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or any advanced oncology treatment have to go abroad. India is the most practical option — English-speaking hospitals, costs 60 to 75 percent lower than Europe, and routing from Banjul (thirty minutes from Serekunda) via Casablanca, Addis Ababa, or Dubai to reach Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, or Hyderabad.
Cancer Specialists in Prime Medical's Network
Dr. Rakesh Jalali at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai is the most relevant specialist for Serekunda patients needing advanced radiation or proton therapy. With 28 years of experience and over 300 peer-reviewed publications — including papers in The Lancet, JAMA Oncology, and JCO — Dr. Jalali is one of Asia's most respected neuro-oncologists and proton therapy specialists. For Gambians with brain tumours, skull base cancers, or paediatric cancers, Dr. Jalali's programme is the destination.
Dr. Sapna Nangia, also at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, handles radiation oncology cases alongside Dr. Jalali. Together their team covers the full proton therapy and precision radiotherapy programme.
Dr. Prasad E at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre covers cancer care more broadly.
Dr. M. Suneetha at Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad — JCI, NABH, NABL — is a cancer care specialist whose hospital is accessible via routing through major hubs. Hyderabad is well-connected internationally.
Dr. Vishnu Hari at Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad provides cancer care at a more affordable price point for Serekunda patients being routed through Delhi NCR. Sarvodaya is NABH accredited.
Dr. Rohit Nayyar at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, Delhi — JCI, NABH, NABL — handles cancer care including haematology and bone marrow transplant for blood cancers.
For Bengaluru routing, Dr. Niti Raizada and Dr. Saratchandra Pingali at Fortis Hospital BG Road, Bengaluru cover a wide range of oncology cases.
Cancers Commonly Presenting in Serekunda Patients
Based on Gambia's cancer epidemiology — shaped significantly by the Medical Research Council's long-running research programme in Gambia — the most common presentations among Serekunda patients seeking treatment abroad are:
Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) — driven by high hepatitis B prevalence in West Africa. For patients with localised HCC within Milan criteria, liver transplant or resection combined with oncological management is available. Dr. V Chandrasekaran at MGM Healthcare, Chennai handles transplant cases.
Cervical cancer — very common in Gambia due to limited screening and HPV vaccination. For early-stage disease, robotic radical hysterectomy. For advanced stages, chemoradiation at India's oncology centres.
Breast cancer — including HER2-positive disease requiring targeted therapy (trastuzumab) not readily available in Gambia. India's hospitals prescribe and administer this.
Prostate cancer — common in older Gambian men. Robotic prostatectomy, radiation, and hormonal therapy all available.
Blood cancers — leukaemia, lymphoma. Bone marrow transplant for patients requiring it at Max Hospital Saket (Dr. Rohit Nayyar) or Apollo Delhi.
Getting from Serekunda to Cancer Treatment in India
Serekunda to Banjul International Airport: approximately 30 minutes. Common flight routes:
- Banjul → Casablanca → Delhi (via Royal Air Maroc and connecting carrier) — approximately 14 hours
- Banjul → Addis Ababa → Delhi (Ethiopian Airlines) — approximately 15 hours
- Banjul → Dubai → Delhi (Emirates) — approximately 15 hours
Prime Medical helps plan the travel route based on available connections and the patient's condition.
Share biopsy results, imaging, blood work, and treatment history with Prime Medical. Within 48 hours, the relevant specialist reviews and provides a written opinion with treatment recommendation and cost estimate.
Indian e-medical visa for Gambian nationals: apply online, three to five working days. Prime Medical provides the hospital appointment letter.
To book a consultation, call the number on our website.
What Serekunda Patients Ask
1. Is proton therapy the right treatment for my cancer diagnosis?
Proton therapy is specifically beneficial for brain tumours, paediatric cancers, skull base cancers, and situations where reducing radiation to surrounding healthy structures is critical. Dr. Rakesh Jalali's team at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre reviews suitability based on your specific tumour type and location. Share your biopsy and imaging with Prime Medical for this assessment.
2. I have been told I have HER2-positive breast cancer. What does that mean for my treatment in India?
HER2-positive breast cancer responds to targeted drugs — trastuzumab (Herceptin) and pertuzumab — that dramatically improve outcomes. These drugs are not widely available in Gambia. India's hospitals prescribe and administer them as part of standard treatment. This is one of the clearest reasons HER2-positive breast cancer patients from Serekunda benefit from treatment in India.
3. Can I get treatment at Sarvodaya Hospital or Yashoda with Dr. Vishnu Hari or Dr. M. Suneetha if I cannot afford the larger hospitals?
Yes. Sarvodaya Hospital and Yashoda Hospitals both provide good quality cancer care at pricing that is more accessible than the flagship hospitals. Prime Medical matches patients to hospitals based on case complexity, specialist requirement, and budget — not just brand prestige.
