Once considered a rare disease, cancer has now become a common ailment that claims thousands of lives every year. It is a long–term disease that requires extensive care. Depending on the cancer type, patients must undergo surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment. The more severe the illness, the higher the treatment costs. This article covers the lung cancer treatment costs in India and how a health insurance policy can help you manage them.

What is lung cancer?

Regarded as the leading cause of cancer–related deaths worldwide, lung cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the lungs that disrupt its normal functioning and form a tumour. This cancer is typically categorised into two types – small cell lung cancer and non–small cell lung cancer, with each type further classified into stages I–IV.

Lung cancer treatment costs in India

The lung cancer surgery cost in India depends on the type, stage, i.e., the severity of the illness, and the treatment prescribed. If the tumour is detected in the early stages, oncologists typically remove it with chemotherapy and radiation. The number of chemotherapy and radiation sessions prescribed depends on how rapidly the body reacts to the treatment. Here is an overview of the lung cancer treatment costs.

• Costs of Diagnostic tests – Rs 34,000 to Rs. 80,000
• Chemotherapy costs – Rs 13,000 to Rs 20,000 per cycle.
• Radiation therapy costs – Rs 67,000 to Rs 350,000
• Lung Tumour Resection – Rs 3,50,000 to Rs. 6,67,000
• Pneumonectomy – Up to Rs 10,00,000

If the cancer starts to spread to other organs besides the lungs, oncologists may recommend surgery. The lung surgery cost in India can range anywhere from Rs 350,000 to Rs 1,200,000.

Additional lung cancer treatment costs in India to consider

Besides the treatment–specific expenses mentioned above, patients must also brace for additional costs, including:

• Hospitalisation costs and the number of days spent in the hospital.
• Fees levied by the specialists in the operating room, i.e. oncologist, anaesthesiologist, and nurses.
• The medications used during the surgery.
• The type of hospital (government/private) providing the treatment.
• Costs associated with recovery and rehabilitation of the patient.
• Expenses related to follow–up consultations and recommended medical tests.

How to manage lung cancer surgery costs in India?

Evidently, the cost of lung cancer treatment is significantly high and can deplete your savings. To ensure you do not lose your life’s savings, you should invest in a critical illness health insurance policy or a cancer care plan.

Critical illness insurance and cancer care plans come with significantly high sums insured (Rs 50 lakh, Rs 1 Crore, etc.) and help you pay for every expense associated with long–term illnesses. You should ideally invest in these policies when you are young, especially if you have a family history of cancer and other acute conditions like kidney diseases, cardiovascular diseases, etc.

With these policies, the insurer pays the entire sum insured upon diagnosis, thus allowing you to focus on getting the best treatment.

You can now buy your health insurance policy online in minutes. Choose from various plans with varying sums insured and secure your finances today.