Chemotherapy Cost in India

Q: Are there lots of side effects of Chemotherapy?
A: It depends on the type and amount of chemotherapy you get and how your body reacts.You may have a lot of side effects, some or none at all.

Q: What are the most common side effects of Chemotherapy?
A: Common side effects are fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pain and hair loss.

Q: What is the average cost of chemotherapy in India's cosmopolitan cities?
A: In large cities of India, the price is low. Such as in Mumbai the cost of chemotherapy ranges from 650-1100 USD per cycle. The overall treatment cost depends on the drugs, number of travelers, cycles of chemotherapy advised stage of cancer and other factors.

Q: Are the side-effects of Chemotherapy treatment permanent?
A: Most of the after-effects are temporary and gradually go as healthy cells usually recover after chemotherapy but some long term effects like on fertility, heart , kidneys may be permanent.

Q: What is the role of a medical oncologist in chemotherapy treatment?
A: A medical oncologist provides medical care to cancer patients. They treat cancer using chemotherapy or other medications such as targeted therapy or immunotherapy. There are some regional cancer care centers and best cancer hospitals that offer affordable chemotherapy treatment plans to treat bone marrow transplant, stem cell transplant, and other types of cancer.

Q: When can be the Chemotherapy schedule?
A: Chemotherapy may be given alone or with other treatments. It may be given every week or every month. Your treatment plan will depend on the cancer type, the chemotherapy drugs used, the treatment goal, and how your body responds.

Q: What are the ways of administering Chemotherapy?
A: There are different ways of administering the drugs example by mouth, in a shot, as a cream or intravenously (by IV) etc., the doctor may decide which is best suitable for you.

Q: What is a pump?
A: It is a device that controls the amount and the speed of chemotherapy drugs being administered.

Q: What is a port?
A: It is a small disc placed under your skin, that connects to a large vein, usually in your chest through a cathter, it is  used to administer chemotherapy drugs or draw blood.

Q: What is Chemotherapy induced pain?
A: Chemotherapy induced pain- is a form of nerve pain, causing peripheral neuropathy or numbness and tingling of hands, feet or any extremity of the body.

Q: What is the advantage of Chemotherapy over surgery and Radiotherapy?
A: Surgery and radiation therapy remove, kill, or damage cancer cells in a certain area, but chemotherapy can work throughout the whole body.

Q: How much does it cost for Chemotherapy?
A: Expenses differ depending on the drugs, the stage of cancer and other factors specific to each patient.

Q: What is the worst stage of cancer?
A: Stage 3 usually means the cancer has started to spread into surrounding tissues and there are cancer cells in the lymph nodes in the area. Stage 4 metastatic cancer means the cancer has spread from where it started to another organ.

Q: How long do you require Chemotherapy?
A: It depends on:

• The type and grade  of cancer
• The goal of treatment: cure, control growth palliate
• The type of chemotherapy
• The way body responds to the treatment

Q: Why is  Chemotherapy usually given  in cycles?
A: Most chemotherapy treatments are given in repeating cycles. Chemotherapy in “cycles”  means a period of treatment followed by a  period of rest.  Example  3-week cycle may be 1 week of treatment and then 2 weeks of rest. The rest allows your body to make new healthy cells.

Q: How long is a round of Chemotherapy?
A: The length of a cycle depends on the treatment being given. Most cycles range from 2 to 6 weeks.

Q: Can cancer be completely cured?
A: Depends on the stage and type of cancer, most chronic cancers cannot be cured, but some can be controlled or go in remission for months or years.

Q: What does five-year survival rate signify in cancer treatment?
A: Five-year survival rate denotes life expectancy, this doesn't mean that survivors only live five more years, but signifies that the study followed participants for that time period.

Q: Are cancer treatments covered by insurance?
A: Health insurance does cover some costs of cancer care. However, one plan does not cover all kinds of costs and cancer insurance. One has to avail other types of insurance to cover additional expenses such as long-term care insurance, disability insurance, supplemental insurance, etc.