Leukaemia Treatment Cost in India - Get Cost Estimate

What is the cost of leukaemia treatment in India?

Leukaemia is a type of cancer that affects blood and bone marrow, specifically white blood cells. Approximately 1.6% of both men and women will be diagnosed with leukaemia in their lifetime, which is rare. While it's not that common compared to other cancers, it still affects a relatively small percentage of the population.

The average cost of leukaemia treatment in India ranges from INR 11,00,000 to INR 25,00,000, while it would cost around USD 20,000 to USD 50,000 to international patients. This cost includes Chemotherapy, Bone Marrow Transplant, Pre-Diagnostic Tests, Monitoring and Follow-up, Supportive Care, etc.

About Leukaemia

Leukaemia is a type of cancer that forms in the bone marrow, where it produces an excess of unhealthy white blood cells. These abnormal white blood cells cannot fight infections and reduce the body's ability to produce healthy blood cells.

White blood cells are also known as lymphocytes, and they are a big part of our immune system. Lymphocytes are categorised into two types

• T cells. These cells travel in your blood to find and destroy infected or foreign cells, activating your immune system in the process.
• B cells: These cells play a vital role in protecting your body by producing antibodies to fight foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria.

The three major types of leukaemia are:

• Acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL): This type of leukaemia, or blood cancer, affects immature lymphocytes, which are less effective at fighting infection. It is commonly found in children.
• Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML): It is one of the most common types of acute leukaemia in adults. It affects the myeloid cells present in the bone marrow, leading to infections, anaemia, and easy bleeding.
• Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL): Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a slow-growing cancer that affects white blood cells called lymphocytes and is common among older adults.
• Chronic myeloid leukaemia: Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a type of cancer that starts in the bone marrow due to a chromosome mutation. Symptoms may not appear until later stages, and diagnosis is typically made through routine blood work.

When leukaemia affects your blood cells, you might feel very tired and short of breath because of anaemia. If it reduces your platelets, you might bleed or bruise easily. And with fewer healthy white blood cells, your body will have a hard time fighting off infections.

Here are some of the most common symptoms of leukaemia:

• Fatigue and tiredness
• Frequent infections
• Unexplained weight loss
• Bone or joint pain
• Fever or chills
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Night sweats
• Shortness of breath

What are the types of Leukaemia Treatment In India?

The type of treatment one should take depends on many factors, such as the type of leukaemia, stage and severity, patient age, and overall health.

Some of the most common types of leukaemia treatment are listed below:

Induction Chemotherapy 

This chemotherapy is a common and usually the primary treatment for leukaemia. It involves the use of powerful drugs to kill the rapidly spreading cancerous cells. It is important to remember that chemotherapy does not only affect the cancer cells but also the healthy cells, leading to multiple side effects.

Bone Marrow Transplant

In bone marrow transplant (BMT), damaged or diseased bone marrow is replaced with healthy stem cells. These stem cells mature into new blood cells, allowing the body to produce healthy blood again.

BMT is categorised into two types:

• Autologous bone marrow transplant: In autologous bone marrow transplant, the patient's stem cells are collected before high-dose chemotherapy or radiation treatment. After treatment, the collected stem cells are reintroduced to help rebuild healthy bone marrow.
• Allogeneic bone marrow transplant: It uses stem cells from a closely matched donor to reduce rejection risk. Stem cells for allogeneic transplants can be obtained from various sources, such as a matched sibling donor, a matched unrelated donor, or a haploidentical transplant.

CAR T-Cell Therapy- the latest development 

It is the process through which we harness our immune system by genetically modifying our T cells to target the tumour itself.

What are the factors that affect leukaemia treatment costs in India?

The cost of leukaemia treatment in India can vary significantly depending on several factors. Here are some of the key ones:

Type of Leukaemia

Four main types of leukaemia exist, and the specific type you have influences the recommended treatment, affected blood cell type, and growth rate. The types are as follows:

• Acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL): INR 17,00,00 - INR 22,00,000 (USD 30,000 - USD 40,000)
• Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML): INR 17,00,00 - INR 22,00,000 (USD 30,000 - USD 40,000)
• Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL): INR 17,00,00 - INR 22,00,000 (USD 30,000 - USD 40,000)
• Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML): INR 17,00,00 - INR 22,00,000 (USD 30,000 - USD 40,000)

Treatment Type

Hospital stay

Leukaemia treatment can be expensive due to hospital stay in BMT units, as the length of stay and the need for isolation can significantly increase the overall cost. Patients need to stay for around 4 to 6 weeks. If their leukaemia comes back after a bone marrow transplant, they might need to stay in the hospital longer, making it a case of relapse, which overall affects the cost of hospital stay.

What are Pre-transplant and Post-transplant Expenses in Leukaemia Treatment

Besides the treatment, other expenses may be added to your treatment plan, such as:

• Pre-transplant expenses (Blood test, bone marrow biopsy, genetic test, imaging tests, etc) - INR 45,000 - INR 70,000 (USD 1000 - USD 1500)
• Post-transplant expenses (hospitalisation and medication) - INR 10,000 - INR 25,000 per month follow-up (Approx USD 1000)

What should be post-transplant care?

After bone marrow transplant (BMT) for leukaemia, good post-transplant care is crucial for recovery and reducing the risk of complications. Here are the following points mentioned for post-bone marrow transplant care:

1. Engraftment monitoring

Your transplant team will monitor your engraftment by blood tests. They will check the count of white blood cells, absolute neutrophil count, haemoglobin, and platelets.

2. Diet

Patients can reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses by making changes to their eating and drinking habits.

Some of the general advice is:

• Only eat freshly cooked food
• Avoid fast food
• Avoid soft cheese, blue cheese, and creamy cakes and puddings
• Avoid shellfish
• Wash salads and fruit very thoroughly
• Avoid alcohol

3. Supportive care

The patients are also at a high risk of infections or Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD). Medication plays a crucial role in preventing this. Physiotherapy may be needed to regain strength and mobility.

Does Insurance Cover Leukaemia Treatment in India?

There are several critical illness insurance or cancer-specific plans that cover the costs of leukaemia and associated expenses such as hospitalisation, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplants, and other related expenses.

While basic plans may not cover treatment entirely, they can cover some expenses, such as hospital stays, to some extent.

When making a claim, you will need to submit your doctor's prescription, investigation reports, admission form, and health insurance papers to the insurance company. This straightforward process ensures that you are well informed and prepared when the need arises.