“The average cost of colon cancer treatment in India starts from $5,000. In some cases, it may reach as high as $15,500 depending on severity of the patient’s condition. However, this cost is still far less than what it costs in other countries.”
Colon cancer treatment in India depends on the stage of the diseases in spite of the shape and size of the tumor. Various treatment options are available to cure colon cancer like- Surgery, Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, and Targeted Therapy.
What is colon cancer?
Colon, or large intestine, is the final portion of the digestive tract in the human body. Cancers affecting this part of the body are known as colon cancers. Alternatively, they have also termed as large bowel cancer or cancer of the large intestine.
What causes colon cancer?
Colon cancer is one of the most common causes of death all over the world. There are several causes for developing colon cancer.
Let’s have a glimpse of all the possible causes for the same.
- Alcohol consumption
Consuming alcohol is never a good idea. It is a huge amount and in the long run, it can trigger colon cancer along with cancer of other organs like mouth, breast, and liver.
- Unbalanced Diet
Consuming diet without low fiber and fruits and vegetables can cause colon cancer. Excessive having fat, especially derived from animal sources is highly dangerous as well.
- Family History
Almost 25 percent of the patients going for colorectal surgery in Varanasi have at least one family member with the same history. The risk increases depending upon the degree of relativeness. In the case of the first-degree relation, it increases up to even three-fold.
- Race and Ethnicity
Belonging from a certain race also triggers colon cancer. Thankfully, the Asian people are at a lower risk of the same as compared to the American and British races.
- Age
Aging is one of the prime factors for on setting of colon cancer. The most affecting age for the same is between 65 and 85, but every individual must beware of this condition as soon as they touch 45 years of age.
- Diabetes
Having diabetes is yet another reason for developing colon cancer. In fact, approximately 40 percent of the people suffering from diabetes develop some of the other kind of rectal and colon disease.
- Smoking
Just like alcohol, smoking does no good either. Long-term smoking leads to accelerated growth in carcinogenic polyps in the colon.
- Obesity
Being obese is almost never does any good. In fact, it is bad, as obesity enhances the risk of colon cancer by 30 percent or more.
Since early diagnosis is a key to cure the problem and lead a healthy life, every individual, especially after the age of 45, should watch out for the same.
Symptoms of colon cancer?
Cancer symptoms are quite varied and depend on where the cancer is located, where it has spread, and how big the tumor is.
It is common for people with colon cancer to experience no symptoms in the earliest stages of the disease. However, when cancer grows; symptoms include :
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Changes in stool consistency
- Narrow stools
- Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
- Pain, cramps, or gas in the abdomen
- Pain during bowel movements
- Continual urges to defecate
- Weakness or fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Iron deficiency(anemia)
If cancer spreads or metastasizes, additional symptoms can present themselves in the newly affected area. Symptoms of metastasis ultimately depend on the location to which cancer has spread, and the liver is the most commonplace of metastasis.
How is Colon cancer diagnosed?
Doctors use many tests to find or diagnose, cancer. They also do tests to learn if cancer has spread to another part of the body from where it started. If this happens, it is called metastasis. For example, imaging tests can show if cancer has spread. Imaging tests show pictures of the inside of the body. Doctors may also do tests to learn which treatments could work best.
- Blood testing
- Molecular testing of the tumor
- X-Ray
- CT or CAT scan
- Colonoscopy
- Endoscopy
- Biopsy
- Positron emission tomography(PET) scan
Stage By Stage [Colon Cancer treatment In India]
Stage 0 [Colon Cancer Treatment In India].
Since stage 0 colon cancer has not grown beyond the inner lining of the colon, surgery to take out the cancer is often the only treatment needed.
- In most cases, this can be done by removing the polyp or taking out the area with cancer through a colonoscope (local excision).
- Removing part of the colon (partial colectomy) may be needed if a tumor is too big to be removed by local excision.
Stage 1 [Colon Cancer Treatment In India].
Stage I colon cancer has grown deeper into the layers of the colon wall, but they have not spread outside the colon wall itself or into the nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage I includes cancers that were part of a polyp. If the polyp is removed completely during colonoscopy, with no cancer cells at the edges (margins) of the removed sample, no other treatment may be needed.
- If cancer in the polyp is high grade (see Colorectal Cancer Stages) or there are cancer cells at the edges of the polyp, more surgery may be recommended. You may also be advised to have more surgery if the polyp couldn’t be removed completely or if it had to be removed in many pieces, making it hard to see if cancer cells were at the edges.
Stage 2 [Colon Cancer Treatment In India].
Many stage II colon cancers have grown through the wall of the colon, and possibly into nearby tissue, but they have not yet spread to the lymph nodes.
Surgery to remove the section of the colon containing cancer along with nearby lymph nodes (partial colectomy) may be the only treatment needed. But your doctor may recommend adjuvant chemotherapy (chemo after surgery) if your cancer has a higher risk of coming back (recurring) because of certain factors, such as:
- Cancer looks very abnormal (is high grade) when viewed under a microscope.
- Cancer has grown into nearby blood or lymph vessels.
- The surgeon did not remove at least 12 lymph nodes.
- Cancer was found in or near the margin (edge) of the surgical specimen, meaning that some cancer may have been left behind.
- Cancer had blocked off (obstructed) the colon.
- Cancer caused a perforation (hole) in the wall of the colon.
Not all doctors agree on when chemo should be used for stage II colon cancers. It’s important for you to discuss the pros and cons of chemo with your doctor, including how much it might reduce your risk of recurrence and what the likely side effects will be.
Stage 3 [Colon Cancer Treatment In India].
Stage III colon cancers have spread to nearby lymph nodes, but they have not yet spread to other parts of the body.
- Stage III colon cancers have spread to nearby lymph nodes, but they have not yet spread to other parts of the body.
- Surgery to remove the section of the colon with cancer along with nearby lymph nodes (partial colectomy) followed by adjuvant chemo is the standard treatment for this stage.
- For chemo, either the FOLFOX (5-FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) or CapeOx (capecitabine and oxaliplatin) regimens are used most often, but some patients may get 5-FU with leucovorin or capecitabine alone based on their age and health needs.
- Radiation therapy and/or chemo may be options for people who aren’t healthy enough for surgery.
Stage 4 [Colon Cancer Treatment In India].
Stage IV colon cancers have spread from the colon to distant organs and tissues. Colon cancer most often spreads to the liver, but it can also spread to other places like the lungs, brain, peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), or to distant lymph nodes.
- In most cases, surgery is unlikely to cure these cancers. However, if there are only a few small areas of cancer spread (metastases) in the liver or lungs and they can be removed along with the colon cancer, surgery may help you live longer and may even cure you. This would mean having surgery to remove the section of the colon containing cancer along with nearby lymph nodes, plus surgery to remove the areas of cancer spread. Chemo is typically given as well, before and/or after surgery. In some cases, hepatic artery infusion may be used if cancer has spread to the liver.
- If the metastases cannot be removed because they are too large or there are too many of them, chemo may be given before any surgery (neoadjuvant chemo). Then, if the tumors shrink, surgery to remove them may be tried. Chemo would then be given again after surgery. For tumors in the liver, another option may be to destroy them with ablation or embolization.
- If cancer has spread too much to try to cure it with surgery, chemo is the main treatment. Surgery might still be needed if the cancer is blocking the colon (or is likely to do so). Sometimes, such surgery can be avoided by inserting a stent (a hollow metal or plastic tube) into the colon during a colonoscopy to keep it open. Otherwise, operations such as a colectomy or diverting colostomy (cutting the colon above the level of cancer and attaching the end to an opening in the skin on the abdomen to allow waste out) may be used.
For advanced cancers, radiation therapy can also be used to help prevent or relieve symptoms such as pain. It may shrink tumors for a time, but it is very unlikely to result in a cure. If your doctor recommends radiation therapy, it’s important that you understand the goal of treatment in India.
Type of Colon Cancer treatment In India
Surgery aims at removing the colon or rectum or a part of it affected by cancer, with or without the adjacent lymph nodes using one of the following approaches. The type of surgery depends on the type, size, location and the extent of the cancer spread.
Type of Colon Cancer surgery In India
- Polypectomy: Polypectomy involves removal of the polyps which are small adenomatous growth that is present in the inner lining of the wall of the colon. They are removed using colonoscopy.
- Colectomy: Colectomy involves removing the part or whole of the colon with cancer and some of the surrounding tissue. This can be done in two ways:
- Traditional open colectomy: involves removal of the part or whole of the colon through a single large incision in the abdomen.
- Laparoscopic colectomy: the most commonly used procedure in which colectomy is done through multiple small incisions of about 5-10mm size using a laparoscope and specialized laparoscopic surgical instruments.
Chemotherapy for colon cancer
Chemotherapy may be performed after or before surgery. If done before, it can help shrink the tumor mass. After surgery, it is done to destroy cancer cells that may have possibly spread to other areas.
This may be done as a palliative treatment in advanced stage colon cancer where no other treatment is possible.
Radiation therapy for Colon Cancer
Radiation may be done after surgery or chemotherapy to destroy any cancer cells that may be left behind. It may be also done in advanced stage cancers to reducing pain, bleeding or blockages.
Immunotherapy for Colon cancer
This aims to increase the immunity of the body to help attack and destroy the cancer cells. Drugs are administered to increase the immunity of the body through oral or intravenous routes.
Targeted therapy
This treatment uses medicines that specifically target the cancer cells without causing any great damage to healthy cells. The medicines target cell components that are involved in cancer cell division.
Complications of surgery depend on the procedures you choose. These may include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Blood clots in the legs
- A hernia
- Damage to nearby organs during the operation
- Scar tissue in the abdomen
- Adhesions that may block the bowel
- Further surgery
There may be other risks depending on your specific medical condition. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your doctor prior to the procedure.
Before the procedure
- Your doctor will explain the surgical procedure to you. Ask any questions that you might have about the procedure. Be sure you understand what the extent of the surgery is likely to be and what you should expect afterward.
- You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives your permission to do the procedure. Read the form carefully and ask questions if something is not clear.
- Ask your doctor if you will possibly need a blood transfusion. If the doctors think a transfusion might be needed, you might be asked to donate blood beforehand.
- Your doctor will go through your full medical history and additionally may perform a complete physical examination to ensure you are in good health before undergoing the procedure. You may undergo blood tests or other diagnostic tests.
During the procedure
Surgery is the removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue during an operation. Procedures may vary depending on your condition and your doctor’s practices.
Generally, the surgery follows this process:
- You will be asked to remove clothing and put on a hospital gown.
- An intravenous (IV) line may be started in your arm or hand.
- You will be positioned on the operating table.
- A urinary catheter may be inserted.
- The surgery will be performed while you are asleep under general anesthesia. The anesthesiologist will continuously monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and blood oxygen level during the surgery.
- Depending on the stage of your cancer and overall medical condition, the surgeon
After the procedure
In the hospital
The patient requires a stay in the hospital for 5-7 days depends on the patient’s condition and complication. After the surgery, you will be taken to the recovery room for observation. The staff will monitor your blood pressure, pulse, alertness, pain or comfort level, and your need for medications and give you medicine for pain. When they are sure that you are stable, you will be transferred to a room in the hospital.
Follow-up Care
It is vial post-treatment for colorectal cancer. Your doctors monitor recovery and check for the recurrence of cancer. Get a schedule for follow-up exams and tests post-treatment. Also, get suggestions for diet and physical activity post-treatment. Watch out for long-term side effects from your treatment and contact your doctor. Get Low-Cost Colorectal Treatment in India by contacting us.
What is the cost of colon cancer treatment in India?
Indian medical facilities are regarded as one of the most preferred medical destinations on a global front at present. Two major contributing factors are quality and cost.
While the quality of the offered Colon Cancer treatments in India is top-notch, the cost incurred is within one’s reach too. This is why a sea of patients from all over the world seeking complex colon cancer treatment procedures plan to come to India.
The cost of Bowel diversion surgery is USD 6000, the cost of cryosurgery is USD 3000 and the cost of polypectomy is USD 2500. If you compare these estimated costs with the cost offered in countries like US and UK, you can find a huge difference; the cost of colon cancer treatment procedures in India is almost 30 to 50% lower than that in its developing counterparts.
How much time it takes to recover from colon cancer treatment in India?
After the surgery, the patient is kept under the observation of the oncologist and the hospital staff. The patient may experience discomfort and pain after the surgery, which is relieved by medicines prescribed by the surgeon. A patient may take four to six weeks to recover and lead a normal life.
Best Colon Cancer Doctors in India
Dr. Vinod Raina
Director , MBBS, MD, FRCP
37 Years of Experience
Gurgaon , India
- Currently associated as Director & HOD, Medical Oncology, Haematology & BMT Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon.
- One of India’s foremost Medical Oncologist.
- Performed approximately 600 transplants for various cancers, largest in India in the last 20 years and about 250 allotransplant.
Dr. Ashok Vaid
Chairman , MBBS, MD, DM
35 Years of Experience
Gurgaon , India
- Currently associated as a Chairman of Division of Medical & Paediatric Oncology, Haematology & Bone Marrow / Cell Transplant at Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon.
- Expertises are Treatment of organ specific cancers, Leukemias, Lymphomas and Cell Transplantation.
Dr. Randeep Singh
Senior Consultant , DM, MD, MBBS
15 Years of Experience
Gurgaon , India
- Dr. Randeep Singh is a highly accomplished Medical Oncologist with experience of more than 15 years.
- He is proficient in managing Solid and Hemato-Lymphoid Tumours.
Dr. Hari Goyal
HOD , DM, MD, MBBS
23 years of experience
Gurgaon , India
- Dr. Hari Goyal has work experience in the best Cancer Centers in India. His influence extends too many prominent oncologists which have become pioneers in their industry.
- He has contributed to the field of cancer chemo through his clinical trial research. In this way, he developed drugs that reduce the side effects of anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Best Colon Cancer Hospitals In India
Established in : 2001
Multi Specialty
Fortis Hospital Gurgaon is the flagship hospital of Fortis Group, it is one of the leading healthcare destination providing world-class integrated services to the community at large. Spread over the sprawling landscape of 11 acres with the capacity of 1000 beds, Fortis Gurgaon brings together an outstanding pool of doctors, assistants and medical staff to treat patients.
Established in : 2009
Number of Beds : 1250
Multi Specialty
Medanta hospital Gurgaon is one of the top hospitals in india. It is India’s largest multi-super-specialty hospital matching the highest standards of healthcare delivery across the world. The hospital has been founded by Dr. Naresh Trehan a cardiac surgeon who has envisioned with aim of bringing to India the highest standards of medical care along with providing integrated healthcare services to the patients and excellent services in clinical services, research, training, and education.
Established in : 2007
Number of Beds : 400
Multi Specialty
Artemis Hospitals in Gurgaon was established in 2007 with a mission to deliver world-class healthcare procedures. It is a multi-specialty hospital offering a wide array of medical care services spread across 9 acres, is a 400 plus bed.
Established in :
No. of Beds: 211
Multi Specialty
Narayana Superspeciality Hospital is located close to DLF Cyber City and the Delhi – Jaipur Highway; it is a world-class medical facility catering to the healthcare needs of the NCR region. Backed with latest medical infrastructure and proficient medical professionals, the hospital represents Narayana Health’s commitment to quality medical care and patient service.
The Hospital is a state-of-the-art facility; with expertly planned and well-equipped sections, including a spacious OPD area and comfortable patient rooms which allows the hospital to cater to both In-Patients and Out-Patients in equal measure. It is a medical facility providing international standard treatments.