Lung Cancer Treatment in India: Cost, Hospitals, and Availability

Learning about lung cancer and its different types

When cells in the lungs grow out of control, lung cancer starts. These cells make tumors that can make it hard to breathe and move to other parts of the body. Smoking, air pollution, or genetics are all things that can cause lung cancer, but even people who don't smoke can get it.

There are two main kinds of lung cancer. The first type is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which makes up about 80–85% of all cases and grows more slowly. The second type is small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), which spreads more quickly and usually needs more aggressive treatment.

The stage of lung cancer, the patient's health, and the type of tumor all affect how it is treated. Doctors in India use a mix of modern treatments to help people live longer and have fewer side effects.

1. Surgery for Lung Cancer

When lung cancer is still in its early stages and the tumor is only in one place, surgery is often the first thing that doctors do. The surgery's goal is to get rid of all the cancerous tissue while keeping as much healthy lung tissue as possible.

Thoracic surgeons in India use advanced methods like video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic-assisted surgery to perform procedures that are more accurate and less invasive. This makes it easier for the patient to heal and less painful.

Depending on the hospital, city, and how complicated the case is, lung cancer surgery in India can cost anywhere from ₹2.5 lakh to ₹6 lakh. After surgery, patients may also get chemotherapy or radiation to kill any cancer cells that are still there.

2. Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer

Chemotherapy is a common way to treat lung cancer, especially when it has spread to other parts of the body. It uses strong drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. In India, the treatment plan will determine how chemotherapy is given: through injections, intravenous drips, or oral medicines.

Most of the time, doctors suggest more than one cycle of chemotherapy over the course of several weeks. Even though they can cause short-term side effects like tiredness, nausea, or hair loss, supportive medicines help patients deal with them well.

The cost of chemotherapy for lung cancer in India varies from ₹30,000 to ₹1 lakh per cycle, depending on the drugs used and the patient's health. Chemotherapy is still an important part of treatment, and it often works well when used with other therapies, even though it is very strong.

3. Radiation Treatment

Radiation therapy uses powerful rays to kill cancer cells in the lungs. It is especially helpful for people who can't have surgery or whose cancer has spread to nearby tissues.

India has both traditional external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and more advanced types like intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). These new methods give exact amounts of radiation to limit damage to healthy tissue around it.

The whole course of radiation therapy for lung cancer in India usually costs between ₹1.5 lakh and ₹4 lakh. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often used together to get the best results.

4. Treatment that is specific to the problem

Targeted therapy is one of the newest and best ways to treat lung cancer. Chemotherapy works on both healthy and cancerous cells, but targeted therapy only works on cancer cells with certain genetic mutations.

Doctors do genetic tests on the tumor to find these mutations before starting treatment. Erlotinib, Gefitinib, and Osimertinib are some of the drugs that people with EGFR gene mutations often take. This personalized approach results in fewer side effects and better results.

The cost of targeted therapy in India varies a lot depending on the drug, but it usually costs between ₹1 lakh and ₹2.5 lakh a month. It may seem like a lot, but these treatments are much less expensive in India than they are in Western countries.

5. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a new way to treat cancer that uses the body's immune system to kill cancer cells. People with advanced lung cancer who don't respond well to chemotherapy or targeted therapy often use it.

Drugs like Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and Nivolumab (Opdivo) help the immune system find and kill cancer cells. The best hospitals in India have these drugs, and they seem to work to improve the quality of life and increase survival rates.

In India, the cost of immunotherapy can range from ₹2.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh per dose, depending on the brand and the amount. It costs a lot, but it helps people with advanced-stage cancer in the long run.

6. Care that is both palliative and helpful

For people with late-stage lung cancer, palliative care is all about making them more comfortable, controlling their pain, and making their lives better. It includes counseling, medicine, physical therapy, and help with eating well.

A lot of Indian hospitals have special palliative care units where patients can get help with their emotional and physical needs while they are getting treatment. Palliative care isn't usually too expensive compared to other countries, but the cost depends on how long it lasts and what services are provided.

How easy it is to get treatment and how available it is

Accessibility is one of the best things about India's healthcare system. Both private and public hospitals offer treatment for lung cancer. Most big cities have cancer centers that use the latest technologies, like robotic surgery, advanced radiotherapy machines, and genetic testing labs.

Hospital pharmacies and authorized distributors make it easy to get medicines like chemotherapy and targeted therapy drugs. The Indian government has also started a number of programs and insurance plans to help patients pay for their treatment, which means that more people can get the care they need.