Advanced oral cancer treatment in India with the hightest survival rates | Affordable Oral cancer treatment cost in India
Oral cancer is one of the most common cancer types that is becoming a growing problem in many parts of the world. With new cases exceeding 640,000 annually.
However, with the advancement of technology, experience, and new protocols, the survival rates of oral cancer patients are also increasing. The same has been observed with advanced oral cancer treatment in India.
Though the detection of oral cancer itself is a matter of concern, with the right treatment with the right doctor at the right time, you can beat oral cancer.
Let’s understand from the experience of Mr. Abdul Hussien, from Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Abdul is a 49-year-old owner of a hotel. Abdul has 3 children and a wonderful wife. Abdul’s children also help Abdul in the hotel business.
Abdul has a habit of chewing tobacco and smoking cigarettes. He has been smoking and chewing tobacco for the last 25 years. Despite repeated requests from well-wishers and family members for him to give up his destructive habits, he seemed to be unwilling to give them up.
Five-year-back, Abdul had a mouth sore that wasn’t healing even after taking over-the-counter medicine. Abdul was also having difficulty swallowing the food and feeling pain while eating. The sore didn’t heal for a month. Abdul’s elder son Aziz took his father to the ENT doctor for a consultation.
The doctor looked for any abnormalities in Abdul’s lips and mouth. Irritated areas, such as sores and white patches. The doctor found some suspicious areas and to be fully sure, the doctor suggested Abdul to do a biopsy. Abdul did the biopsy and went back home. The next day reports came doctor called Abdul and told him that he had cancer. The doctor suggested he consult an oncologist for further treatment.
After listening to the cancer news Abdul and the whole family were in shock. Lots of relatives came to meet Abdul and his family giving their advice of all the different kinds. Aziz, while searching for the best mouth cancer treatment for her Abbu got to know about MedicoExperts, is conducting an OPD camp next week in Dhaka which is near to his place. Aziz registered for the camp.
Aziz came with her father Abdul to the OPD camp for the consultation. The oncologist saw the reports of Abdul, examined the condition, and explained in detail the treatment protocol. The doctor also advised not to delay the treatment. After the consultation, Abdul went home and had some doubts that he wanted to clarify and contacted MedicoExperts.
The MedicoExperts team explained to Abdul about the Tumor Board approach and also arranged the online video consultation. During the video consultation, the doctor clarified all his doubts regarding the treatment. Abdul, after understanding all the details, decided to come to India for the treatment.
After 15 Days, Abdul along with his son Aziz came to India. Abdul was admitted to the hospital on the same day. Pre-evaluation tests were performed to check the current spread of cancer.
PET scan diagnosed that the tumor was located at such a place that it could not be operated upon.
Abdul was given a treatment plan that was personalized for him. A combination of highly conformal radiation and concurrent chemotherapy was used in his treatment. Abdul was given a radical treatment plan that included weekly chemotherapy. It took seven weeks of rigorous treatment to remove all visible and residual disease from the body including treatment with a fourth-generation linear accelerator IMRT for the primary tumor.
After the treatment and regular follow-ups, a re-evaluation test was performed and no trace of cancer was found. Currently, Abdul is living a healthy and disease-free life.
Abdul and his family were very happy with the outcome of the treatment and thanked the doctor and MedicoExperts team.
This can be your story as well to win the battle against oral cancer even if you have complex oral cancer. What you need is the right guidance, right treatment at the right time from the right experts.
Before we move ahead with oral cancer symptoms, stages of oral cancer, oral cancer treatment, and survival rates, let’s understand what oral cavity cancer is.
Cancer is uncontrollable cell growth that invades and damages surrounding tissue. Oral cancer appears as a growth or sore that does not go away.
The combined role of the oral cavity and oropharynx is to help you eat, chew, breath, talk, and swallow.
Oral cavity cancer starts in the mouth and moves towards the throat. The oral cavity includes teeth, gums, area behind the wisdom tooth, first two-third parts of the tongue, cheeks, and floor of the mouth.
Apart from that, you should be knowing about the oropharynx.
The oropharynx is the middle part of the throat just adjacent to the oral cavity. It includes tonsils, the base of the tongue, and the inner walls of the throat. It can be seen when the mouth is fully open.
What are the different types of Oral cavity cancer?
The oral cavity has different types of cells. Each cell type can have a different type of cancer. These different types of cancer determine their treatment.
Squamous cells are thin, flat cells that form the inner lining of the oral cavity and oropharynx.
The majority of oral cavity cancers are squamous cell cancers.
In earlier stages of this type of cancer, cancerous cells are found in the epithelial layer (The epithelial layer is the innermost layer of the cells). It further grows into a deeper layer of the cells.
Apart from that, there is another type of squamous cell cancer, which is called HPV-related cancer. HPV stands for human papillomavirus. It rarely occurs in the oral cavity. And it occurs in young people with no history of tobacco or smoking.
This type of cancer starts in salivary glands in the inner lining of the mouth and oropharynx.
There are immune system tissues at the base of the tongue and tonsils. In those tissues, lymphoma cancer starts.
It is a kind of precancerous condition where certain types of tissue changes take place in the mouth and throat.
- Leukoplakia is a white or grey area in the mouth that doesn’t get removed upon scratching.
- Erythroplakia is a white and red patch that often bleeds upon scratching.
So, that’s it about types of oral cavity cancer. Now we will see various stages of oral cavity cancer.
In this stage, cancer is within the epithelium layer. The Epithelium is the topmost layer inside the oral cavity. Cancer has not grown inside to other layers of the cells in this stage.
In stage 1, the cancer area is 2 cm or smaller. It has not spread to other inner layers or the cells or lymph nodes.
In stage 2, cancer that grows more than 2 cm is not larger than 4 cm. It may be spread to inner cellular levels but not nearby tissues and lymph nodes.
In this stage, cancer grows larger than 4 cm. In the oropharynx, cancer tumors grow to the epiglottis (Epiglottis is the base of the tongue). It may be spread to a maximum of 1 nearby lymph node or may not be spread to any lymph node and nearby organs.
In stage 4, cancer grows larger than 4 cm and can be of any size. It grows outside to nearby organs like,
- It grows to the chin, jaws, floor of the mouth in the lip cancer.
- In oral cavity cancer, it grows upto jaws, face bones, the skin of the face, and deep muscles of the tongue
- In oropharynx cancer, cancer cells grow to the larynx(also called voice box), tongue muscles, and jawbones.
Now we will see various symptoms of oral cavity cancer.
Symptoms of oral cavity cancer are very common and may or not be cancer. But if symptoms remain persistent and if you are associated with any risk factors, it is advisable to see a doctor and get it screened.
So here are symptoms of oral cavity cancer,
- Sore mouth and lip that doesn’t heal over a long time.
- A white or reddish patch inside the mouth
- Sore throat
- Weak teeth
- Pain in ear and mouth
- Presence of lump inside mouth and throat.
- Difficulty or feeling of uneasiness while swallowing.
Now we will see what causes oral cavity cancer and what are risk factors associated with oral cavity cancer.
Oral cavity cancers occur when cells in the oral cavity start abnormal growth. It occurs due to mutation in the cells at the DNA level. There are no specific reasons known why genetic mutations occur. But still, there are some risk factors that can increase the risk of oral cavity cancer.
So, here are risk factors,
- High alcohol consumption
- Chewing of tobacco
- Smoking
- High exposure of sunlight to lips
- Human papillomavirus – it is a sexually transmitted virus
- Weak immune system
Now, we will see how oral cavity cancer is diagnosed.
In the physical exam, the doctor takes a look at the mouth, lips, and throat to see if there are any abnormalities. They also check areas where you may feel irritation like soreness in the throat and white or red patches.
In a physical exam, if a doctor observes any abnormalities they remove some tissue samples from that area for laboratory test purposes. Doctors may use cutting tools to remove some samples and it will be sent to the laboratory for testing purposes.
If biopsy reports are positive then the next step is to check upto what extent cancer has spread in the body. For doing that various tests are performed.
It helps doctors to find what stage cancer it is. Treatment of cancer depends on what stage of cancer it is. So, here are some tests
Endoscopy
In endoscopy, a small flexible tube along with a camera is inserted in the mouth. With the help of a camera doctor checks whether cancer has spread beyond the mouth or not.
Imaging tests
Various imaging tests are prescribed to confirm whether cancer has spread beyond the mouth and upto how much extent.
Imaging tests like X-ray, CT scan, MRI, and PET are recommended for testing. Doctors may combine any of these tests as per requirement.
After imaging tests, the doctor decides treatment as per the extent of cancer.
Now, we will see treatment for oral cavity cancer.
Oral cavity cancer treatment depends on various factors like stage of cancer, location of cancer, and personal preference. In some cases only one treatment is enough while in some cases more treatments are combined.
Here are various treatment options for oral cavity cancer.
For oral cavity cancer, various surgeries are performed as per the location of the cancer.
Surgery for a cancerous tumor
In this surgery, the surgeon removes the tumor part. Surgeons may cut away tumors and some parts of healthy tissues as a margin to make sure that all cancerous cells are removed. Surgery depends on tumor size, if the tumor is small then minor surgery is performed. For large tumors, more complicated processes are carried out.
Surgery for cancer that has spread to the neck
This surgery is carried out if cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the neck. Doctors remove lymph nodes containing cancerous cells in the neck. Neck dissection process is used to remove cancerous cells from lymph nodes in the neck.
Surgery for mouth reconstruction
After surgery, the doctor recommended mouth reconstruction surgery to rebuild the mouth. So that you can eat and talk normally again. Transplantation of skin and veins is carried out from various parts of the body to the mouth. In some cases, dental implants are also performed.
There are risks associated with oral cavity cancer surgery. Like it may change the ability to speak, talk and eat. It may change your look. For a short-term tube may be used to insert food and water in the body.
High energy beams like X-rays and protons are used to kill cancerous cells.
The radiation beam is targeted at cancerous cells. It is recommended alone or combined with surgery and chemotherapy as per requirement. Radiation therapy has some side effects like dry mouth, damage to the jaw bone, and decay of teeth.
This is the reason before radiation therapy for the oral cavity, doctors recommended dental examinations to check whether teeth are healthy enough or not. Unhealthy teeth may need to be treated or removed before surgery.
In chemotherapy, a drug is given to kill cancerous cells. It may be combined with other treatments to ensure the complete removal of cancerous cells.
Side effects of chemotherapy are nausea, hair removal, and vomiting
Immunotherapy is generally preferred for patients who do not respond to all these previous treatments.
Immunotherapy basically uses the immune system to fight cancer. The immune system of the body does not attack cancer cells because cancer cells produce a protein that’s similar to normal cells. Immunotherapy interferes with this system.
To know more please visit the immunotherapy pages.
Targeted drug therapy is used to target specific weak parts of the cancerous cells. Targeted drugs also alter specific parts of the cancerous cells that trigger their growth.
For mouth cancer, Cetuximab targeted drug therapy is used. Cetuximab targets specific proteins that are found in abundance in cancerous cells.
In targeted drug therapy, you may face some side effects like headache, diarrhea, skin rash, and itching.
Now we will see a very important part.
To know more please visit the targeted drug therapy pages.
Typically, soon after the diagnosis of oral cancer your doctor may prescribe you some medication to slow down the progression of cancer.
Also, before starting the treatment for oral cavity cancer your doctor may ask you to undergo a few tests. These tests are mainly done to understand the precise location and extent of spread of cancer in the oral cavity.
After understanding the extent of spread, your doctor will choose the best treatment suitable for you. The different treatment approach for different stages of oral cavity cancer treatment are:
Typically, doctors advise surgery to reverse stage 1 cancer. Sometimes your doctor may advise you on radiation or chemotherapy with surgery.
Most doctors recommend surgery to treat stage 2 oral cavity cancer. Sometimes your doctor may even remove adjacent lymph nodes while removing the cancerous part.
Besides surgery your doctor may advise chemotherapy, and radiation therapy to ensure complete removal of cancerous cells.
Treatment for stage 3 oral cavity cancer is similar to the treatment of stage 2 cancer. Your doctor will surgically remove the cancer and the adjacent lymph nodes. After the surgery your doctor may advise you on radiation therapy and chemoradiation therapy.
Typically there are minimal chances to reverse this stage of cancer. However, doctors try to manage and help you relieve symptoms of advanced stage of oral cavity cancer.
Selecting a country for oral cavity cancer treatment can be a difficult task because you need to check on several factors like:
- The chosen country has modern health-care facilities with other advanced technologies for the treatment.
- The survival ratios for people who underwent oral cavity cancer treatment in the chosen country
- Confirm the success rate of oral cavity cancer treatment in the country
- Ensure that the cost of treatment, and stay in that country is reasonable
Apart from checking on the affordability and advanced treatment, you must also consider logistic factors including:
- Availability of connecting flights,
- Ease of local transportation, and
- Safety of the selected country.
While it is not uncommon for people to prefer western nations treatment for cancer, the cost of oral cavity cancer treatment in those countries are usually high.
Contrary to western nations the cost of oral cavity cancer treatment in India is almost half. Besides offering affordable treatment the hospitals in India offer you world-class facilities, with high success and survival ratios for oral cavity cancer treatment.
While choosing a country for oral cavity treatment is important, selecting a hospital for oral cavity cancer treatment is equally crucial. When selecting a hospital for oral cavity cancer treatment, you must ensure that the hospital you have chosen is equipped with the advanced devices used for cancer treatment.
Besides providing advanced facilities you must ensure that the hospital offers a multidisciplinary approach.The multidisciplinary approach helps you get access to specialists surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and well-trained nurses who work together to provide you with the best treatment.
Nevertheless, you should also ascertain the availability of a dedicated unit for cancer treatment with a well-trained post-care team that ensures high success and survival rate.
Choosing an oncologist for your oral cancer treatment is a difficult yet one of the most essential decisions you make for your cancer treatment.
An experienced and qualified doctor helps you provide the necessary treatment to reverse or manage the symptoms of cancer. Before selecting an oncologist for your oral cavity cancer treatment you must ensure:
- Your doctor is tumor board-certified oncologist
- If your doctor has a team of specialists for treating cancer which includes specialist surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists
- Your doctor has adequate experience and expertise in treating oral cavity cancer
- Always choose a doctor with whom you are comfortable with
Now, Let’s explore the cost of mouth cancer treatment in India.
The cost of oral cancer/mouth cancer treatment in India varies on the size of the tumor, stage of cancer, and also the treatment option is chosen according to the condition of the patient.
A cancer evaluation will reveal the extent of the spread and the best-suited treatment to restrict and cure it. The cost for cancer evaluation starts from 500 USD (37220 INR).
After the initial evaluation, the oncologist will be able to gauge if cancer can be treated by therapy alone or if surgery is recommended.
The cost for oral cancer surgery in India starts from 3000 USD (223325 INR). Thanks to advancements in technology and innovation, newer and safer surgical options are also possible.
However, it is to be noted that not every patient is eligible for this treatment option. The Head and neck onco-surgeon will suggest the best-suited treatment plan based on the patient’s case.
In certain cases, surgery is also to be combined with other treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy to ensure a complete cure.
The cost of chemotherapy for oral cancer starts from 400 USD / cycle (29776 INR). And The cost of chemotherapy starts from 4000 USD / cycle (297767 INR).
The average percentage of patients who survived more than 5 years of oral cavity cancers are different as per location of cancer like,
Lip cancer survival rate:
In Lip cancer, 5 years survival rate for initial local stage cancer is 94%, for advanced stage survival rate is 66% and for the final stage survival rate is 32%. The overall survival rate is 92%.
Tongue cancer survival rate:
In Tongue cancer, 5 years survival rate for initial local stage cancer is 82%, for advanced stage survival rate is 68% and for the final stage survival rate is 40%. The overall survival rate is 67%.
Floor of mouth cancer survival rate:
In Floor of mouth cancer, 5 years survival rate for initial local stage cancer is 76%, for advanced stage survival rate is 38% and for final stage survival rate is 20%. The overall survival rate is 51%.
Oropharynx cancer survival rate:
In Oropharynx cancer, 5 years survival rate for initial local stage cancer is 62%, for advanced stage survival rate is 57% and for the final stage survival rate is 29%. The overall survival rate is 49%.
So, that’s it about oral cavity cancer. Connect with us for the best treatment of oral cancer in India.
Frequently Asked Questions and patient concerns:
1. How can you detect oral cancer at home ?
Oral cancer can be checked at home with the help of touch tests. Put your index finger inside your cheek in the mouth and thumb on the outside of the cheek. Then roll your cheek between your thumb and index finger to see if there is any lump or not. If you find any tender spot or lump then it should be shown to the doctor.
2. Can a dentist detect oral cancer?
Dentists may not be able to detect oral cancer with the help of a physical exam. To detect oral cancer a biopsy test is required. But the dentist can surely find any suspicious red and white spots in the oral cavity.
3. How long does someone live with throat cancer?
Survival rate of throat cancer is high. Almost 90% of adults survive throat cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis
4.How to prevent oral cavity cancer?
If you wish to prevent oral cavity cancer, You should visit the dentist regularly for a routine check up.
- Avoid sun exposure to your lips. Apply sunscreen lotion on lips to protect lip skin.
- Completely stop chewing tobacco and tobacco products.
- Don’t drink alcohol in excessive amounts. Take alcohol in moderation.
5. What is the right time to visit a cancer specialist in oral cavity cancer?
There are some early warning signs of oral cavity cancer. If you feel any of these signs, visit a cancer specialist immediately.
- Sore throat for long period of time
- Trouble in chewing or swallowing
- Feeling of pain when moving your jaw and tongue.
- Numbness in mouth, tongue and other areas in the oral cavity.
6. What are the advanced technologies to treat oral cancer?
There are many advanced technologies to treat your oral cancer. Like,
- Immunotherapy where your immune cells are guided to attack cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy where high energy radiation beams are targeted on cancerous cells.
- Targeted drugs therapy where a drug is targeted to specific weakness of the cancer cells that ultimately kills them.
7. Is head and neck and oral cancer the same ?
Oral cavity cancer is a cancer that starts in the head and neck. All the cancers in head and neck are collectively referred to as squamous cell carcinoma of voice box, throat and tongue.
But there is a slight difference. When you say head and neck cancer, it also includes cancer that starts in the nasal cavity, thyroid gland, sinuses, salivary glands. While oral cancer is limited to only the oral cavity.
What is the recovery time after surgery in oral cavity cancer?
Recovery time completely depends on which part of your oral cavity was affected and upto what extent cancer was spread in that part.
After surgery you may have to spend a few days at the hospital. It will take several weeks to feel better after leaving the hospital. After leaving hospital you will most likely need special care at home to get complete recovery.
Best hospital for oral cancer treatment in India
The best oral cancer hospital in India are equipped with cutting-edge technology and the latest innovation to provide the best cancer care. Here is a list of the best hospital for mouth cancer treatment in India which provide the best cancer treatment and surgery:
MedicoExperts is a Global virtual hospital which is established to offer quality healthcare services at affordable pricing without compromising the success rates of the treatment.
MedicoExperts is having a network of highly experienced super specialist doctors and well equipped hospitals across the globe and offering second opinion through online video consultation and surgical interventions through its empanelled super specialist doctors at its network hospitals in 17 countries from 3 continents.
By the virtue of its approach and model, MedicoExperts is successfully achieve to deliver
- Latest and most advanced treatments with success rates of international benchmarks.
- Multiple cost options depending upon the hospital facilities, with the same doctor.
- Treatment option in multiple cities/state/countries.
- Trust and peace of mind.
Most suitable for patients who are looking for:-
- Planned Surgeries and treatment from most experienced doctors and at multiple cost options as per hospital facilities with best possible outcomes.
- Second Opinion from expert doctors.
- Complex cases involving multi specialities
- International patients looking for treatment from Indian doctors
Anthony, 58 yrs. old after undergoing radiotherapy and hormone therapy, shares his experience of getting prostate cancer treatment in India.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Anthony Igwe, and I am 58 years old and I am from Ghana. I was diagnosed with stage 3 prostate cancer in Jan 2010. I had all the symptoms, uncontrollable frequent urination, blood in the urine, and a lot of pain and discomfort. My local doctors said I should get a surgery done to remove it, but I was not sure. I wanted to seek second opinion, someone who could help me better.
How did you know about MedicoExperts?
I stayed positive and began looking for second opinion from my local doctors, but I was still worried about getting good treatment in my own country. A relative suggested I visit the MedicoExperts Connect Centre in Ghana. When I went there with my reports, they reconfirmed what the reports suggested, but said that they could get me in touch with a doctor in India who can help me evaluate my situation better. After speaking to the Surgeon from India, I was informed that it was not necessary I undergo surgery as it could do more damage than good, getting radiotherapy along with hormone therapy was a more logical option. They recommended sessions of radiotherapy. They asked me if I was willing to travel to India for my treatment. I had heard a lot of good things about the facilities in India and their doctors, and I felt I should get my treatment done in India. The team was kind enough to help me make a choice according to my preference.
How was your experience with MedicoExperts and the Indian Surgeon?
MedicoExperts team was really empathetic and caring throughout my treatment in India. They would check up on me and help me if I needed anything in particular. The team of doctors and attendants that I had too were very understanding and proactive. They genuinely cared about my well-being which also helped me stay positive and get better. Thank you team MedicoExperts.
Mr Daniel Banda never knew much about prostate cancer before his diagnosis. Now, after radical prostatectomy in India, he is surviving the odds and also spreading awareness.
Tell us about yourself
Hi, I am Daniel Banda, 49 years old from Nigeria. I decided to get a general check-up done, which included PSA test. When my results came, the PSA levels were surprisingly high and I was asked for further evaluation which included biopsy. After my results, I was told I had localized prostate cancer and could get a surgery done. I always believed that prostate cancer was the disease of an old man before my diagnosis.
How did you know about MedicoExperts?
I found out about MedicoExperts through a Facebook ad about prostate cancer. I dropped an inquiry and they got back to me pretty quickly. I discussed with them about my symptoms and conditions, and after sharing reports, they told me I could undergo radical prostatectomy. However, I had to travel to India for getting this treatment. I was a bit worried about travelling so far for surgery. MedicoExperts team got me to consult with the surgeon directly, which helped me build trust.
How was your experience with MedicoExperts and the Indian Surgeon?
After the initial doubting phase, I was able to make my decision to travel to India. I must say the MedicoExperts team is very thorough. They urged me to ask and clear all my doubts with the uro-onclogist in India before my travel plans. I discussed all the possibilities of side-effects and how long will I take to get back to my normal routine. This helped me prepare for the surgery better and also mentally be prepared for the side-effects. My overall experience was good and I would definitely recommend MedicoExperts for any treatment.
Author Bio:
Dr. Subhamoy Mukherjee – Ph.D. (Oncology)
Dr. Subhamoy Mukherjee is a molecular oncologist with experience of working with genomic profiles. He has several years of experience in scientific writing. He takes strong interest in making people aware of different treatment approches in cancer, acute and chronic diseases. He also has interest in innovative approches for treating different mental and physical illnesses.
Content Medically Reviewed By MedicoExperts Editorial & Clinically Review Board
