Understanding lung cancer treatment cost in Kolkata is important when surgery is not considered an appropriate solution. Most patients think that surgery is the most suitable option for treatment, but specialists recommend against it in a variety of situations. This could be due to the patient’s state of health, the condition of cancer, or the degree of tumour spread.
Why surgery may be unsuitable
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Advanced tumour stage
In some cases, lung cancers may have already reached advanced stages when diagnosed. When the tumour has invaded surrounding structures like blood vessels, heart, or spine, surgery would no longer be safe or even be possible. This is often referred to as inoperable lung cancer.
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Poor overall health
Weakened lung capacity or other chronic conditions such as severe heart disease, diabetes, or kidney disease put patients at higher risk while undergoing and after surgery. Reduced tolerance to anaesthesia or recovery from severe surgery is also a problem.
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Frailty and old age
Older patients recover more slowly and can develop complications. In such situations, the hazards of surgery may not be offset by its advantages. Rather than improving the quality of life, surgery could keep patients longer in the hospital and pain.
Better Alternatives:
- Radiation Therapy is High-dose radiotherapy can reduce tumours or retard their growth. It is frequently utilised for local control or symptom relief in those who are unable to have surgery.
- Chemotherapy is a drug remedy that can travel throughout the body and attack cancer cells, and prevent the growth of cancerous cells. It is frequently employed in advanced disease and can be combined with other therapies.
- Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy are newer treatments that work on specific markers or help the immune system fight cancer. They produce fewer side effects and are more precise, but they cost more.
- Thermal Ablation is a non-surgical technique in which heat or cold is used to destroy cancer cells. This is usually reserved for individuals with small tumours who will not survive surgery.
Affordability with Effective Remedy
While surgery can cost a few lakhs of rupees with an extra cost of hospitalisation and recovery time, non-surgical methods could sometimes reduce upfront costs but might imply longer treatment duration.
Radiation therapy, especially newer technologies, seems less expensive but will catch up in cost throughout a number of sessions. Chemotherapy and targeted therapies tend to have monthly costs that need to be planned for accordingly. Immunotherapy, though promising, is the most expensive option and could be out of reach for everyone who does not have insurance or government aid.
It is better to visit a hospital’s financial counsellor or social worker to learn total costs, possible insurance coverage, and accessible assistance programs.
Role of Caregivers
Guardians and caregivers should get the right information. Always understand the reason why surgery is not possible and what alternatives are offered. It is better to obtain a second opinion. Other hospitals have different standards for surgery.
Treatments like immunotherapy and radiotherapy work extremely well for most, especially with late-stage lung cancer. Track all expenses of Medicine, scans, travel, and palliative care that can contribute.
Conclusion
Look for financial aid, like subsidised prices or government arrangements may be available in some hospitals to ease the cost burden. The cause can range from the severity of to the extent the condition has spread to the overall ability of the patient to go through the process. Advanced medicine techniques offer several non-surgical alternatives which prove to be efficient. Knowledge of the alternatives and the lung cancer treatment cost in Kolkata enables the families to take more informed, reflective choices.
