Before we take a look at the chemotherapy cost in India, let’s elaborate on why the need for chemotherapy would arise and the ways in which it could be used.
Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to aggressively target cancer cells that are dividing rapidly and acts as an effective barrier to their growth. Chemotherapy medications are known to have some unpleasant side effects. If your doctor suggests it as an option, then the benefits will likely outweigh any of chemotherapy’s more undesirable traits.
Chemotherapy is a potent and valuable tool for treating many types of cancer. However, its efficacy depends on the type of cancer in question and the stage it has reached.
The individual may undergo chemotherapy as part of a broader treatment plan, which may include surgery, radiation, and hormone therapy. The combination in which these three forms of treatment are used depends on the following:
- The classification of the cancer and how far it has spread.
- If the individual has been treated for cancer previously.
- The location of the tumour.
- Any treatment preferences the individual may have.
Uses of Chemotherapy:
- Eliminate or control the spread of cancerous cells.
- Helps shrink the tumour’s size.
- Provide relief from existing symptoms.
If the individual has been subject to a surgical procedure to remove a tumour, the oncologist may recommend chemotherapy to ensure no cancerous cells are lurking.
Chemotherapy could also be the first step in treating cancer, such as reducing the tumour size in preparation for surgery or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy could also help alleviate any pain felt as a result of the tumour’s presence.
Aside from cancer treatment, chemotherapy can help prepare people with bone marrow complications for stem cell treatment and for those individuals with immune system disorders. Chemotherapy in lower doses can help in situations like rheumatoid arthritis, where the body’s immune system ambushes the body’s healthy cells.
Known Side Effects of Chemotherapy:
While chemotherapy is advantageous for eradicating cancerous cells, it also affects healthy cells. As a result, chemotherapy even affects the cells in other parts of the body, such as:
- Blood
- Hair
- Skin
- The lining of the intestine.
Because of its aggressive nature, individuals undergoing chemotherapy may experience:
- Bruising may occur easily, along with excessive bleeding.
- Diarrhoea or constipation.
- Dryness in the mouth and mouth sores.
- Excess fatigue accompanied by fever.
- Hair loss.
- Loss of appetite and weight loss.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Nerve damage resulting in pain.
- Trouble with memory and concentrating on the current activity.
- Insomnia
- Potential fertility issues.
Professionals You Will be Interacting With:
Over the course of the chemotherapy schedule, you will likely be in close contact with the following health professionals:
Medical Oncologist: A doctor specialising in treating cancers is known as a medical oncologist. They will work in tandem with other team members to chalk up a treatment plan and ensure everything runs smoothly. The oncologist will also take an active part in your chemotherapy treatment.
Medical Assistants: Oncology nurses and oncology physician assistants interact regularly with the patients and collaborate with the supervising medical oncologist. Some of their responsibilities include:
- Conducting a physical examination.
- Recommending and interpreting all laboratory and diagnostic tests.
- Prescribing and administering medications.
- Providing counselling for patients and their families
Oncology nurses are knowledgeable in cancer care, and their role includes:
- Handling chemotherapy sessions.
- Clarifying any questions regarding the treatment.
- Monitoring the individual’s health during treatment.
- Helping cope with any of the treatment’s side effects.
The rest of the team members help with regard to your physical, emotional, and social needs during chemotherapy. These professionals include:
- Social workers.
- Registered dietitian nutritionists.
- Physical therapists.
Preparing for Chemotherapy:
Any treatment plan involving chemotherapy has to be tailor-made to suit the patient’s unique needs. Before the treatment commences, the following steps will be carried out:
- You will be meeting your oncologist, who will scrutinise your previous medical records and history and conduct a physical exam. Before you begin therapy, the oncologist is likely to recommend you undergo a series of tests to help determine if you’re healthy enough for chemotherapy. These tests will also help the oncologist make an informed choice regarding the kind of chemotherapy to treat you with.
- The team of healthcare professionals supervising you will explain when and how often you need chemotherapy. Most chemotherapy sessions are carried out over multiple cycles, with the duration depending on the drugs you receive. The average length of a chemotherapy cycle lasts between 2 to 6 weeks. The number of doses scheduled depends on the kind of chemotherapy prescribed.
- The oncologist may recommend you visits your dentist prior to beginning chemotherapy. As chemotherapy interferes with the body’s immune system, any oral infection could spread through the body, thus complicating any attempts at treatment.
- The oncologist will likely install a port if the chemotherapy drugs are administered intravenously. A port is a device typically implanted in your chest near the shoulder. This allows for easier access to your veins and makes the treatment less painful.
Kinds of Chemotherapy:
As we know, cancer cells are normal cells that multiply rapidly and grow out of control. Chemotherapy’s role is to eliminate and prevent these cancerous cells from multiplying.
There are multiple ways in which the oncologist may utilise chemotherapy for the treatment procedure.
- Adjuvant therapy: Chemotherapy is used to clear out any remaining cancer cells after surgery or radiation therapy.
- Curative therapy: Chemotherapy may be used along with radiation therapy to eliminate the cancer and ensure it doesn’t return.
- Neoadjuvant therapy: Chemotherapy is used to target and shrink a tumour prior to surgery or radiation therapy.
- Palliative therapy: Chemotherapy is used to shrink the tumours and control symptoms but doesn’t cure the cancer.
The Chemotherapy Procedure:
The most common ways of administering the chemotherapy medications are:
- Chemotherapy is most often injected into the vein or intravenously. The drug is administered through a tube and needle apparatus either into one of the veins of the arm or the chest.
- There is an option to consume some chemotherapy drugs either as a pill or capsule.
- Chemotherapy drugs can be injected into the patient with a syringe, just as you would receive a shot.
- Specific chemotherapy drugs come as creams or gels and are used to treat certain types of skin cancer.
- Chemotherapy drugs can also be used to treat specific parts of the body. For instance, chemotherapy drugs can be infused directly into the abdomen, chest cavity or central nervous system.
- It is viable to administer chemotherapy medication directly to the cancer or, after surgery, where it once was. Slender disk-shaped wafers containing chemotherapy drugs are placed near the tumour during surgery. These wafers release chemotherapy drugs over time.
Your oncologist will schedule your chemotherapy treatments based on what drugs you’ll receive, the cancer’s attributes and how the body recovers after each session. The chemotherapy schedule can be continuous or have a gap in between to let you recover.
Chemotherapy Cost in India:
If you need to undergo chemotherapy in India, it’s essential to consult a qualified oncologist who will come up with a suitable treatment plan based on the patient’s requirements. All major cities in India have hospitals well-equipped to cater to cancer patients.
Pre-treatment Expenses:
- The oncologist’s consultation charges.
- Lab tests.
- Biopsy
- Endoscopy
The cost of chemotherapy in India at the pre-treatment stage will vary according to the nature of the lab tests and the complexity of the biopsy and endoscopy. Finally, the doctor’s expertise will affect the cost of the consultation.
The chemotherapy sessions themselves can cost anything between INR 7000/- (USD 90) to INR 50,000/- (USD 600). The way the chemotherapy drugs are administered and the treatment’s duration will increase the total cost. In the case of oral chemotherapy, the price varies from INR 7000 (USD 90) to INR 15000 (USD 180) per cycle. If the chemotherapy medication is given intravenously, the cost can vary from INR 25000 (USD 300) to INR 50000 (USD 600) per cycle.
Thanks to the robust medical infrastructure and lower cost of medical care, the country attracts overseas patients seeking quality treatment that lowers their financial obligation. For a more comprehensive break-up regarding chemotherapy cost in India, reaching out to one or more of the many medical facilities in the country will help present a clearer picture.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bone marrow transplant
What is bone marrow transplant surgery?
A bone marrow transplant is a procedure in which unhealthy stem cells of the bone marrow are infused with healthy stem cells taken from a donor.
What is bone marrow?
A bone marrow comprises sponge-like tissues consisting of stem cells. These stem cells are responsible for red and white blood cell production, along with the production of platelets.
What causes bone marrow failure?
Several diseases may cause bone marrow failure. They range from various kinds of cancers to genetically inherited diseases.
What can be treated with bone marrow transplant?
Different types of cancers often require bone marrow transplant as its treatment.
What is the overall procedure for bone marrow transplant?
There are four steps to complete a cone marrow transplant. They are, collection of stem cells, pre-transplant treatment, transplant infusion, and recovery.
What tests are required?
Preoperative blood tests and an overall body organ tests are required.
Who decides the candidature for bone marrow transplant?
The transplant team of doctors decide the candidature for the bone marrow transplant. This team comprises doctors from various specialties such as an oncologist, a physiotherapist, a psychologist, etc.
What are the two kinds of bone marrow transplant?
Traditionally, there are two kinds of bone marrow transplant. One is where the donor is the patient (also known as an autologous transplant) and another is where the donor is another person (also known as allogeneic transplant).
How long do I have to stay in India for a bone marrow transplant?
The overall number of days required for you to stay in India for bone marrow transplant is anywhere between 30- 90 days.
What are the complications of a bone marrow transplant?
The various complications of bone marrow transplant include infection, low platelet production, low red blood cell production, organ damage, fluid overload, and graft failure.
What is the worst complication of bone marrow transplant?
The worst complication for bone marrow transplant is when the immune system of the donor in the collected stem cells begins to react with the patient’s body. This is medically known as graft-versus-host-disease. Medications are required to suppress the donor’s immune system until it begins to accept the host’s body as its own. Some other serious complications include graft failure, organ damage, and fluid overload.
