Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Options and Costs in India

Introduction

Pancreatic cancer is a formidable adversary, often detected at an advanced stage, making it one of the deadliest forms of cancer. While the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can be devastating, advancements in medical science and access to healthcare have provided hope to those facing this challenging disease. India, with its world-class medical facilities and experienced healthcare professionals, offers a range of treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients. In this blog, we will explore the treatment options available in India and the associated costs.

Understanding Pancreatic Cancer

Before delving into treatment options, it's essential to have a basic understanding of pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is a vital organ responsible for producing digestive enzymes and regulating blood sugar levels. Pancreatic cancer occurs when malignant cells develop in the pancreas, often leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain, weight loss, jaundice, and digestive problems. There are two main types of pancreatic cancer: exocrine and endocrine tumors, with the former being the most common.

Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Options in India

Surgery:

• Whipple Procedure (Pancreaticoduodenectomy): This surgery involves removing the head of the pancreas, the duodenum, a portion of the stomach, the gallbladder, and nearby lymph nodes. It is typically performed when the cancer is localized to the head of the pancreas.
• Distal Pancreatectomy: In cases where the tumor is located in the body or tail of the pancreas, a distal pancreatectomy may be recommended. This procedure involves removing the tail and sometimes part of the body of the pancreas.
• Total Pancreatectomy: In rare cases, when the cancer has spread throughout the pancreas, a total pancreatectomy may be necessary, resulting in the complete removal of the pancreas.

Chemotherapy:

• Chemotherapy is often used in conjunction with surgery to target any remaining cancer cells or to shrink tumors before surgery.
• Gemcitabine, FOLFIRINOX, and nab-paclitaxel are some of the chemotherapy drugs commonly used for pancreatic cancer treatment.

Radiation Therapy:

• Radiation therapy may be recommended before or after surgery to kill cancer cells or reduce the size of tumors.
• Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a precise form of radiation therapy that delivers high doses of radiation directly to the tumor.

Targeted Therapy:

• Targeted therapy drugs like Erlotinib and Sunitinib may be used in cases where the cancer has specific genetic mutations.

Immunotherapy:

• Immunotherapy is an emerging treatment option for pancreatic cancer, and clinical trials are ongoing to explore its effectiveness in this disease.

Costs of pancreatic cancer treatment in India

The cost of pancreatic cancer treatment in India varies depending on the type of treatment, the hospital, and the patient's insurance coverage. However, in general, the cost of pancreatic cancer treatment in India is much lower than in developed countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.

Here is a rough estimate of the cost of some common pancreatic cancer treatments in India:

Treatment	Cost in USD Most popular procedures in India Total Hip Replacemen Upto 80% off 90% Rated Satisfactory Total Hip Replacemen Upto 80% off 90% Rated Satisfactory Breast Cancer Surger Upto 80% off 90% Rated Satisfactory Total Knee Replaceme Upto 80% off 90% Rated Satisfactory Total Knee Replaceme Upto 80% off 90% Rated Satisfactory
Surgery	$4,000 to $8,160
Chemotherapy	$530 to $710 per cycle
Radiation therapy	$610 to $815 per session

Factors that affect the cost of pancreatic cancer treatment

The cost of pancreatic cancer treatment can be affected by a number of factors, including:

• The stage of the cancer
• The type of treatment
• The hospital
• The patient's insurance coverage
• The patient's overall health

Some of the best hospitals for pancreatic cancer treatment in India include:

Hospital | Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Cost (USD)

Medanta – The Medicity, Gurgaon | 8,000 - 12,000 | |

Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi | 7,500 - 11,500 | |

BLK Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi | 7,000 - 11,000 | |

Max Super Specialty Hospital Saket, Delhi | 6,500 - 10,500 | |

Fortis Memorial Research Institute, | 6,000 - 10,000 | |

Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon | 5,500 - 9,500 | |

Amrita Hospital Faridabad, Faridabad | 5,000 - 9,000 | |

Asian Hospital Faridabad, Faridabad | 4,500 - 8,500 | |

Apollo Hospital Chennai, Chennai | 4,000 - 8,000