Lung Cancer Treatment Cost In India

In today’s world, lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. It is possible to prevent a lot of lung cancers. Precancerous changes in lung tissue can occur soon after inhaling cancer-causing agents like tobacco smoke. But cancer typically takes years to develop. It is frequently successfully treatable if it is detected early. There are two types of lung tumors: benign and cancerous (spreading to other parts of the body).

Lung cancer treatment in India is primarily done with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy are more recent forms of treatment.

The choice of treatment option and the technology used for it have a significant impact on the overall cost of lung cancer treatment in India. The level of quality of the hospital and the experience of the medical professional are important factors in the cost of lung cancer treatment in India.

What is Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer refers to abnormal or uncontrolled tissue growth within a person’s lungs. Lung cancer can be triggered by a number of factors, including excessive smoking, radiation exposure, pollution, inhaling fine particulates, and other carcinogenic agents.

Lung cancer starts in the lungs and can spread to the lymph nodes or other body organs, like the brain. The lungs may also become infected with cancer from other organs. Metastases are the term used to describe the spread of cancer cells from one organ to another. Based on how the disease appears to look under a microscope, there are two main types of lung cancer that can be distinguished:

• Small Cell Carcinoma: Only 20% of cases of lung cancer are caused by it. Usually, this cancer starts in one of the breathing tubes and spreads quickly. The probability of a diagnosis increases with the size of the tumor.
• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): It is responsible for nearly 80% of lung cancers. It involves several types of lung cancer that are similar. Squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma are mainly among these.

There are various types of NSCLC. If diagnosed early, the majority of NSCL types respond favorably to treatment. 

• Squamous cell lung carcinoma
• Adenocarcinoma
• Adenosquamous carcinoma
• Large Cell Carcinoma

A person with both types of lung cancer is said to have mixed small cell/large cell cancer. Additionally, cancer that has spread to the lungs from other parts of the body is referred to as metastatic lung cancer.

What are the Symptoms of Lung Cancer?

Early symptoms of lung cancer include a cough (sometimes with blood), weight loss, wheezing, or chest pain. You should not ignore these symptoms, and you should also get medical help as soon as possible.

If you have any of the following medical conditions, you may also require a diagnosis:

• Fatigue or tired
• Unexpected weight loss
• Breathlessness
• Coughing out blood or rust-colored phlegm
• Cough that gets worse over time
• Loss of appetite
• Hoarseness
• Recurrent infections
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• Wheezing
• Chest pain while laughing or coughing

A hormone-like substance that is occasionally released by lung cancer tumors can also cause a variety of symptoms collectively known as paraneoplastic syndrome. These signs include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar
• Confusion
• Seizures

If you are concerned about any persistent signs or symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor. Schedule a visit with your doctor if you have tried to stop smoking but have been unsuccessful. The use of counseling, medications, and nicotine replacement products are just a few of the quit-smoking aids your doctor may suggest.

What are the Causes of Lung Cancer?

The causes of nearly 80% of lung cancer fatalities happen due to smoking tobacco.

The biggest risk factor for lung cancer is smoking, which is exacerbated by other factors. Other contributing factors include:

• Exposure to asbestos
• Exposure to cancer-causing chemicals such as mustard gas, uranium, radon gas, etc.
• Family history of lung cancer
• Presence of high arsenic levels in drinking water
• Inhalation of air pollutants

Lung cancer has a number of known risk factors. These consist of:

• Smoking
• Second-hand smoke
• Exposure to radon
• Exposure to asbestos, diesel exhaust, and other toxic substances
• Family history of lung cancer
• The previous record of radiation therapy on the chest

How Diagnosis of Lung Cancer Done?

A physical examination and a conversation with your doctor are the first steps in diagnosing lung cancer. They’ll want to review your medical history and any current symptoms you may be experiencing. Tests are also required to verify the diagnosis. These could consist of:

• Imaging Tests: On X-ray, MRI, CT, and PET scans, an abnormal mass can be seen. These scans reveal more information and detect smaller lesions.
• Sputum Cytology: If you cough up phlegm, a microscopic examination can reveal the presence of cancer cells.
• Bronchoscopy: A lighted tube is inserted into your lungs while you are sedated so that the tissue of your lungs can be examined more closely.

A biopsy might be performed as well. A biopsy is a procedure in which a small sample of lung tissue is taken and subsequently examined under a microscope. A biopsy can reveal the cancerousness of tumor cells. A biopsy can be carried out utilizing one of the following techniques:

• Mediastinoscopy: Your doctor makes a neck incision to perform a mediastinoscopy. To collect samples from lymph nodes, a light-filled instrument is inserted, and surgical tools are used. Under general anesthesia, it is typically carried out in a hospital.
• Lung needle biopsy: During this procedure, your doctor places a needle into the suspicious lung tissue after puncturing the chest wall. Lymph nodes can also be examined with a needle biopsy. You will typically have it done in a hospital, and a sedative will be given to you to help you relax.

If the biopsy results indicate that you have cancer, you may require additional testing, such as a bone scan, to help determine whether the disease has spread and to aid in staging.

Cost of Lung Cancer Treatment in Various Cities of India

City                              Cost (INR)

Bengaluru            INR 1,00,000 – INR 25,00,000

New Delhi          INR 1,05,000 – INR 26,00,000

Mumbai             INR 1,00,000 – INR 27,00,000

Gurgaon            INR 1,00,000 – INR 25,00,000

Chennai             INR 1,00,000 – INR 24,00,000

Hyderabad        INR 1,00,000 – INR 23,00,000

Pune                   INR 1,00,000 – INR 25,00,000

Kolkata              INR 1,10,000 – INR 26,00,000

Kochi                  INR 1,00,000 – INR 25,00,000