Oral cancer is a challenging disease, often associated with factors like smoking, alcohol, and HPV. The disease affected more than 4,76,000 people worldwide in 2020.
One common approach for treating oral cancer is surgery, where surgeons carefully take out the cancer, making sure they get every last cell. Sometimes, lymph nodes need to be checked or even removed if they’re involved.
But oral cancer surgery doesn’t stop at removal. It’s about helping you get back to feeling like yourself. This can include reconstructive surgery to restore your appearance and functions like speaking and swallowing.
The cost of oral cancer surgery in India ranges from INR 2,40,000 to 5,00,000. In this blog, we’ll explore oral cancer surgery and learn in detail about its associated costs.
What is Oral Cancer?
Oral or mouth cancer is a malignancy that develops in the oral cavity. The occurrence of oral cancer is attributed to genetic mutations. The mutations result in uncontrolled cell growth and the potential for invasion into neighboring tissues.
- Clinically, oral cancer typically presents as persistent mouth lesions, such as ulcers or non-healing sores, nodules, or tissue thickening. These signs may be accompanied by symptoms such as dysphagia, odynophagia, and voice changes, progressing to difficulty in mastication and articulation in advanced stages.
- Treatment modalities encompass surgical resection, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. Combinations of these approaches are often employed, guided by factors such as cancer stage and patient health.
- Prognosis varies based on the stage at diagnosis and response to treatment, with early detection offering a substantially higher chance of successful management. Regular dental check-ups and lifestyle modifications, such as tobacco cessation and moderation of alcohol consumption, contribute to oral cancer prevention.
What is Oral Cancer Surgery?
Oral cancer surgery is a critical medical intervention to address malignancies within the oral cavity. This surgical procedure excise cancerous tissues while preserving normal functionality and appearance.
- The primary surgical approach involves tumor removal, wherein surgeons carefully eliminate the cancerous growth along with a margin of surrounding healthy tissue to ensure complete eradication of cancer cells. In cases where cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, lymph node dissection may be performed for evaluation.
- Reconstructive surgery may follow tumor removal, particularly if extensive tissue removal is necessary. This reconstructive phase focuses on restoring the patient’s appearance and essential functions such as speaking and swallowing. Achieving clear surgical margins, meaning that no cancer cells remain at the surgical site, is crucial for reducing cancer recurrence risk.
- Biopsy and pathology analyses of the removed tissue provide critical information about cancer staging and guide further treatment decisions.
After surgery, patients require post-operative care and rehabilitation, which may involve speech therapy, physical therapy, and dietary adjustments. This support helps patients adapt to any functional changes resulting from the surgery and aids in their recovery.
Oral cancer surgery is often clubbed with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or targeted therapies, depending on the cancer’s stage and characteristics. Early detection and timely surgical intervention are pivotal in improving treatment outcomes for oral cancer patients.
What is the Cost of Oral Cancer Surgery in India?
The surgical removal of oral or mouth tumors largely depends on the cancer stage and the type of surgery selected. The oral cancer surgery cost in India lies between INR 2,40,000 to 5,00,000. This cost can range from USD 3,000 to USD 6,000 for international patients.
When clubbed with radiation therapy and chemotherapy, the cost of oral cancer treatment can go up to 7 lakhs.
Various factors can cause fluctuations or variations in the pricing of the surgery. Some of these factors are:
- Type, accreditation, and brand value of the hospital
- Type of surgery done
- Technique and technology used
- Surgeon’s fees
- Duration of stay
- Follow up costs
How Does the Cost of Oral Cancer Surgery in India Compare to Other Nations?
India has always been at the forefront of providing cost-effective medical and surgical treatments for various cancers. The country offers all the latest treatment modalities, including surgeries, for managing oral cancers. A comparison of the cost of oral cancer surgery in India with other nations is given below:
- Singapore: USD 11,000
- Germany: USD 9,600
- Turkey: USD 8,400
- Malaysia: USD 7,680
- France: USD 7,500
- Thailand: USD 7200
Who are the Best Oncosurgeons for Oral Cancer Surgery in India?
India has some of the most skilled and experienced oncosurgeons, providing result-oriented surgeries for oral cancer. A list of the top 4 surgical oncologists in India is given below:
- Dr. Rajaraman Ramamurthy is a senior Surgical Oncologist with a vast experience of over four decades. He specializes in surgical removal of tumors in the mouth, liver, bones, gastrointestinal tract, breast, etc.
- Dr. Rajesh Mistry is a well-known Surgical Oncologist with 25+ years of experience. He has expertise in managing oral cancers, head & neck tumors, and esophageal and lung cancer.
- Dr. S. M Shuaib Zaidi is a renowned Surgical Oncologist having more than 17 years of experience. He provides excellent care for patients who have lung cancer, oral cancer, GI cancer, head & neck cancer, oesophageal cancer, and breast cancer.
- Dr. Vijay Haribhakti is a leading Surgical Oncologist with more than three decades of experience. He has performed over 7,000 breast and head & neck cancer surgeries. He specializes in surgically removing cancers of the breast, mouth, lungs, esophagus, head & neck and in reconstructive surgeries.
To conclude, we can say that oral cancer surgery cost in India is much more affordable than in Western nations. However, the quality of treatment is not compromised at all. By using the latest innovative techniques like robotic and minimally invasive surgeries, mouth cancer treatment in India yields high success rates.
