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Everything You Need To Know About Immunotherapy Treatment Cost in India

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In life, we are able to fight off many illnesses because of our strong immune system. Unfortunately, unlike other diseases, our immune system cannot detect cancer cells. This creates a need to introduce large amounts of proteins into the body to detect cancer cells and induce more immune system cells to fight the disease. This is done through a treatment called immunotherapy. In India, it is offered at many well-known hospitals and clinics, but you need to be mindful of the cost involved. To ensure there’s financial protection against the hefty treatment costs, you must be armed with critical illness insurance, which can be bought as a standalone policy or as a rider with your standard health insurance policy.

Immunotherapy Cost in India

Immunotherapy costs in India can range between Rs 80,000 to Rs 2,00,000. The cost varies because of several factors, such as the type and severity of cancer, type of hospital, location, treatment duration, the overall health of a patient, etc.

Let’s take a look at the approximate cost –

What is Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that boosts our immune system to identify and attack cancer cells. It stimulates the immune system’s natural ability to recognise and destroy cancerous cells. It does not directly target and kill abnormal cells as in conventional treatments like chemotherapy or radiation.

Types of Immunotherapy Treatment

1. Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell Therapy:

In this treatment, T-cells are extracted from the patient’s bloodstream and genetically modified to express chimeric antigen receptors so they can identify and target cancer cells upon reinfusion into the patient’s body. This is a personalised treatment customised as per the patient’s immune profile.

2. Checkpoint Inhibitors:

These medications help the immune system identify and target cancer cells.

3. Immunomodulators:

These improve the patient’s immune system’s ability to fight against cancer. They don’t attack cancer cells directly.

4. Cytokines:

These are proteins which stimulate the immune cells to attack cancerous tissues.

5. Cancer Vaccines:

By stimulating our body’s immune system to attack cancer cells, vaccines can help prevent or treat certain types of cancers.

6. Monoclonal Antibodies:

These are lab-made proteins targeting specific antigens in cancer cells.

7. Oncolytic Viruses:

These are genetically modified viruses that infect and destroy the cancer cells without damaging healthy tissues.

How is Immunotherapy Given?

Immunotherapy can be given in different ways, such as –

• Oral:

Some immunotherapy drugs are taken orally as they come in pills or capsules. You can take the medication daily or on a scheduled cycle as prescribed by your doctor.

• Intravenous (IV) :

In this method, immunotherapy drugs are injected directly into a vein. Depending on the medication, each infusion can take 30 minutes to a few hours.

• Topical:

Skin cancer, in its early stage, is treated with immunotherapy cream, which is applied directly to the affected area. The cream can be applied several times a week for several weeks or months.

• Intravesical:

This method involves injecting immunotherapy drugs into the bladder via a catheter. The treatment is for those suffering from bladder cancer.

Type of Immunotherapy Treatment Required

The type of immunotherapy treatment an individual requires depends on several factors, like the type of cancer, location, size of the tumour, stage and severity, age of the patient and overall health condition.  So, the treatment differs from person to person.

Pre-Treatment Costs Associated with Immunotherapy Treatment

Before immunotherapy treatment starts, there are some pre-treatment costs which one should be aware of to get an estimate of the overall cost of immunotherapy. These are –

• Consultation Fees:

Prior to the treatment, you have to consult an oncologist who will recommend the appropriate treatment plan based on your condition. The consultation fee can range from Rs 500 – Rs 5,000, depending on the hospital and the cancer specialist.

• Diagnostic tests:

After consultation, you will be recommended several tests like blood examinations and imaging tests such as CT scan, MRI, or PET scan. Routine blood tests will evaluate your overall health condition and whether immunotherapy will be suitable, costing around Rs 5,000. Imaging tests will check the size of the tumour, location, and stage, and the cost can range between Rs 5,000 – Rs 40,000.

• Other pre-treatment costs:

If the patient suffers from any chronic conditions, he/she will be prescribed medications to manage the conditions before starting immunotherapy.

What is the Success Rate of Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy has shown positive results in treating advanced-stage cancers. While the exact success rate of immunotherapy can vary depending on the individual's age, immunity, overall health, type of cancer, stage of cancer, severity of cancer, genetic factors, etc., the average success rate stands between 20% and 50%.

Conclusion

Immunotherapy costs in India can depend on multiple factors, as mentioned above. If you have a health insurance policy, it will help cover treatment expenses, but the coverage may not be adequate. The best option for comprehensive financial protection against critical illnesses like cancer is critical illness insurance, specially designed to cover critical illnesses.

FAQs

1. Does immunotherapy treat all kinds of cancers?

Immunotherapy treats different types of cancers such as leukaemia, skin cancer, bladder cancer, lymphoma, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, brain cancer, colon cancer, kidney cancer, cancer of the head and neck, and more.

2. Are there any side effects of immunotherapy?

Some side effects of immunotherapy include fever, chills, headaches, fatigue, loss of appetite, pain in bones or muscles, skin rashes, diarrhoea, mouth sores, shortness of breath, etc. Your doctor will prescribe medications to manage these side effects.

3. How is immunotherapy given to patients?

Immunotherapy can be administered in various ways. You can take it orally, intravenous (IV), apply it directly on the affected skin area in the form of a topical cream, or your oncologist can give it directly into the bladder via a catheter (intravesical).

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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