Oncology

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India’s Cancer Treatment Costs: A Complete Overview

What is Cancer and How is it Treated?

Cancer develops when some cells in our bodies develop in an unhealthy and fast way. These harmful cells damage the healthy portions of our bodies. Today, cancer is one of the leading causes of serious illness and death. But with modern tests and techniques, doctors can detect cancer earlier and treat it more effectively. Cancer is more than just one disease. There are many kinds of cancer, and it can develop in practically any portion of the body. That is why every healthcare facility has a large, specialised cancer department.

There are different ways to treat cancer. Some people may need surgery, some may take strong medicines (called chemotherapy) and others may need special lights (radiation) to make the cancer cells go away. Each person gets a different treatment plan. It depends on where the cancer is, how big it is, and what kind of cancer it is.

Types of Treatment:

• Main Treatment: This is to remove or kill most of the cancer. Example: Surgery.
• Extra Treatment (Adjuvant): This is given after the main treatment to make sure the cancer doesn’t come back. Example:
  • Radiation
  • Chemotherapy
  • Hormone Medicine
• Comfort Treatment (Palliative): This helps the patient feel better and manage pain or side effects from other treatments.

What’s Included in the Cancer Treatment Package

The total cost of cancer treatment usually covers the following:

• Tests before treatment – These may include X-rays, CT scans, biopsy, tumor marker tests, PET scans, and other checks to find and understand the cancer.
• Main treatment – This could be surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a mix of these, depending on the size, type, and spread of the tumor.
• Follow-up treatment – Sometimes chemo or radiotherapy is needed before or after surgery to stop the cancer from coming back.
• Medicines – The cost of medicines needed during and after treatment is also included.
• Hospital stay – The charges for staying in the hospital during treatment and recovery.

Important Note:
After the surgery, the patient will meet the surgeon within a week. This appointment is required to check on healing and remove all stitches or nails that may have been used.

Things That Can Change the Cost of Cancer Treatment

The overall cost of cancer treatment is dependent on the patient. It depends on the patient's health, needs, and preferences. Some of the main factors that impact the cost include:

• Type of hospital and room – Whether the patient stays in a general ward, shared room, or a private room will impact the total cost.
• Stage and type of cancer – The seriousness and kind of cancer play a big role in deciding the treatment and cost.
• Extra scans or tests – After surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, patients may need PET scans, CT scans, or other tests more than once.
• Other medical tests – Some patients may also need extra checks like ECG, blood tests, or heart tests.
• Longer hospital stay – Usually, the hospital stay is 3 to 4 days, but it can be longer depending on recovery.
• Living costs during follow-up visits – If the patient is from another city, they may need to stay nearby for more days, especially if chemotherapy or radiotherapy takes multiple sessions.