Breast Cancer Treatment Cost in India

blog
Jul 2, 2022
expertexpertexpert

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer, affecting 13.5% Indians in 2021 alone, as per a report. Due to causes unknown, the DNA in the cells mutate, and keep multiplying. From diagnosis to post–surgery care, Indian medical institutions offer impressive cancer treatment facilities. Keep reading to know more about breast cancer treatment costs in India and how to manage them.

Breast cancer & treatment

Breast cancer is caused by the abnormal growth of cells in the breast. The cells multiply rapidly and form lumps. Cancer can invade the surrounding healthy cells and lymph nodes and form new tumours, known as metastasis. Breast cancer can be treated in several ways, but the most widely known treatments include:

  • Lumpectomy: Oncologists surgically remove the cancer tissue.
  • Mastectomy: Oncologists amputate the entire breast.
  • Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is an intravenous treatment that shrinks or kills the cancerous cells.
  • Radiation therapy: High–intensity rays shrink the tumour and kill the cancer cells.
Breast cancer treatment cost in India

Breast cancer surgery costs vary from patient to patient. Below is a gist of the types of treatments and costs:

  • Lumpectomy and mastectomy are the most common treatments. These invasive procedures typically cost a lot, starting at several thousands to a few lakhs.

  • Cancer patients may also need to undergo several cycles of chemotherapy. The cost of chemotherapy for breast cancer can range from Rs 25,000 onwards, depending on the hospital, city, and doctor administering the chemotherapy.

  • If cancer has spread severely, oncologists may recommend radiation, which costs several lakhs, depending on the cycles prescribed.

How to reduce breast cancer operation costs

You can buy two types of health insurance policies to help you cover cancer treatment costs.

  • Cancer care policies that cover the treatment costs for various types of cancer.

  • Critical illness health insurance policies that cover cancer treatment costs and the expenses of treating various other long–term illnesses like cardiovascular ailments, multiple sclerosis, paralysis, kidney failure, etc.

Both cancer care and critical illness plans typically cover the following costs:
  • Oncologist consultation fees: The oncologist’s fee depends on the oncologist’s experience and the hospital where they offer consultation.
  • Hospitalization charges: Most cancer treatments are in–patient procedures for which you must pay hospital room rent and other associated costs.
  • Medication and diagnostics: Cancer detection tests, biopsies, medicines, post–surgery care, etc., can also impact the breast cancer treatment cost.
How cancer care and critical illness insurance helps

Cancer treatment usually involves expensive, long–term extensive care. Unlike a general health insurance policy, the insurance provider pays you the sum insured against cancer care and critical illness policies when you receive the diagnosis. Thus, you do not need to file cashless or reimbursement claims and can get access to the funds to bear the breast cancer treatment costs without having to file multiple claims. These policies equip you with the finances and the peace of mind to concentrate on your treatment.

Invest in health insurance

If you haven’t yet, you should invest in a health insurance plan today. You can encash the insurance policy to pay for the treatment costs associated with various mild and severe medical conditions.

Disclaimer: The above information is indicative in nature. For more details on the risk factor, terms and conditions, please refer to the Sales Brochure and Policy Wordings carefully before concluding a sale.

Recent Blogs

Health Insurance

6 Healthy Habits For Families

The key to long-term health is to get the entire family involved. Right from making healthy food choices to leading an active lifestyle – incorporating healthy habits in your daily lifestyle can be simple and practical when everyone in the family is working towards the same health goals. Over here we discuss 6 healthy habits for families. You can add these habits into your daily routine to ensure your family’s good health. 6 Healthy Habits for Families Eating a healthy diet, together as a family The easiest of all family eating habits to cultivate is eating together. In today’s hectic world, eating together may be a challenge, but it’s worth making the efforts. There are several benefits of eating together. Eating together will help everyone in your family stick to scheduled meal times. Combine this habit with a healthy diet. Make a variety of healthy food choices, preferably food made at home so that family members, especially children do not look for junk food. Make meal prep a fun activity For family health benefits, it is essential to lead by example.Make healthy food choices so that your children can follow suit. A great way to promote healthy eating habits is to invite your children to be part of the cooking process. Help them choose the recipe and shop the ingredients. This will go a long way in inculcating healthy food choices in children. Have no-phone zones Apart from instilling good and healthy family habits and practices with regards to meals, it helps to turn meal hours into exclusive family hours with no interruptions. Having no phone zones at the dinner table and in the bedroom can encourage your family members to get moving and spend less time sitting. Encourage your kids to play outside. Planning fun activities like play board games and treasure hunts with your children can prove to be highly rewarding. Be more active as a family Staying active as a family doesn’t have to be boring! You can let every family member choose one activity for every week. From taking strolls to doing yoga together, from biking to swimming, many fun-filled activities can help you and your family burn some calories, relieve stress, while forming healthy family habits and practices. Practice hand hygiene As a family, make sure everyone follows hand hygiene. Wash hands after going to the restroom, before preparing food, after touching a pet, changing a diaper, blowing your nose, coughing, or handling garbage. You can also make a 20-second song so that children thoroughly wash their hands. Do not skip medical tests The importance of keeping track of your health cannot be emphasised enough. By undergoing regular medical check-ups you can help your family make informed health care decisions. It can help you catch health problems in the early stages and make lifestyle changes accordingly. Do include dental and eye checkup for yourself and your children in the annual medical checkup. To reap family health benefits, it’s important to take the right precautions, at the right time and make the right changes to avoid the most common health illnesses Why is family insurance a must? Illnesses don’t come knocking on the door. So, it only makes sense to have a backup plan in case you or your family member falls sick or needs hospitalisation in case of an accident or a health condition. With medical expenses skyrocketing, a health insurance policy is the best protection cover for a family. A comprehensive health insurance plan will give you that peace of mind regarding your family’s health and your financial well-being. Disclaimer: The above information is indicative in nature. For more details on the risk factor, terms and conditions, please refer to the Sales Brochure and Policy Wordings carefully before concluding a sale.

Health Insurance

10 Worst Diseases That Smoking Can Cause

Smoking causes diseases but it is one of the most preventable causes of death worldwide. Every puff of a cigarette exposes the body to many harmful chemicals which can cause serious health problems. As awareness of these risks increases, so does the importance of having a reliable health insurance plan to help manage the financial burdens associated with these diseases.

Health Insurance

12 Foods With More Vitamin C Than Oranges

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in maintaining overall health. It is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Additionally, vitamin C is crucial for the growth, development, and repair of all body tissues. It aids in the formation of collagen, absorption of iron, and the proper functioning of the immune system.

Health Insurance

20 Foods High in Vitamin A: A Guide to Boosting Health Through Diet

Vitamin A is a vital nutrient that plays a key role in maintaining overall health, supporting vision, immune function, skin health, and more. As a fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin A exists in two main forms: retinoids (found in animal products) and carotenoids (found in plant-based foods). Retinoids are readily usable by the body, while carotenoids must be converted into the active form of vitamin A.