Best Breast Cancer Hospital in India

What is the Average Cost of Breast Cancer Treatment in India?

Breast cancer, forming in the cells of the breasts, is the most common cancer diagnosed among women worldwide, though it can affect men as well. Do we know every 14 seconds, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide? In India, breast cancer treatment is prevalent due to its advanced care, skilled doctors, and cutting-edge technology, offering hope and healing to many. The treatment involves various methods aimed at removing or controlling cancer cells in the breast, providing patients with a fighting chance against this widespread illness. Breast cancer surgery cost in India is significantly lower than in Western countries. For international patients, it ranges between USD 3,000 and USD 7,000. This includes the costs of surgery, anaesthesia, operating room, medical supplies, and the necessary hospital stays for the specified duration. However, the average cost of breast cancer treatment in India can vary based on factors such as the stage and type of cancer, treatment modality, hospital, oncologist, the surgeon’s fee, drugs, equipment, and the duration of treatment required.

Types of Breast Cancer Treatment

To treat breast cancer, doctors often perform surgery. The types include:

• Lumpectomy: This surgery involves removing the tumour along with a small margin of surrounding healthy breast tissue. It aims to preserve the breast as much as possible.
• Modified Radical Mastectomy: This procedure involves removing the entire breast that contains the tumour, as well as some of the lymph nodes under the arm. The chest muscles are usually left intact.
• Breast Conservation Surgery/ Oncoplasty: This surgery removes the tumour and a small amount of surrounding tissue, preserving the rest of the breast. Sometimes, cosmetic techniques are used to reshape the breast.
• Mastectomy with reconstruction: This involves removing the entire breast that contains the tumour and reconstructing the breast using implants or tissue from another part of the body.
• Reconstructive Surgery: This is a separate surgery performed after mastectomy to rebuild the shape of the breast. It can be done using implants or tissue from another part of the body.

After surgery, patients might need more treatments, such as:

• Treatment using medication – Anti-cancer drugs are widely employed as a breast cancer treatment in India. Some medicines are altered to increase their effectiveness in treating the disease.
• Chemotherapy – The drugs will be administered either in the form of IV injection or oral administration.
• Immunotherapy – The drug uses the body’s immune system to kill the cancer cells. It either strengthens the immune system or arms it to be able to detect the cancer cells and destroy them.
• Targeted therapy – The drugs used for targeted therapy will target a specific gene or protein of the cancer cells, or a specific environment in the tissues that contribute to the growth of the cancer cells.
• Hormonal therapy – They are also referred to as endocrine therapy.