Cervical Cancer Treatment Cost Guide: Expenditure Summary, Types of Surgeries, and More

Cervical cancer is the cancer of the lowermost part of the uterus, which is known as the cervix. Even though cancer can be prevented by PAP smear testing and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, still millions of cases of cervical cancer are reported around the world.

What makes the diagnosis of cervical cancer tricky is that it does not result in any unusual symptoms in a majority of women. In some cases, specific symptoms such as the following may appear:

• Bleeding between the periods
• Bleeding after intercourse
• Foul smelling white discharge
• Lower abdominal pain
• Lower back pain
• Fatigue, nausea, or weight loss

However, all these symptoms of cervical cancer are common to certain other conditions and diseases as well. Therefore, it is very much possible to confuse
them as an indication of another condition. This delays cervical cancer diagnosis and as a result, there are huge chances that a great damage would be done by the time doctors start suspecting it.

This is one of the main reasons why thousands of women across the globe die of cervical cancer each year. The high mortality rate from cervical cancer across the globe can possibly be prevented through early diagnosis, effective screening programs, and proactive treatment strategies.

The purpose of this Cervical Cancer Treatment Cost Guide is to present information pertaining to the costs associated with the treatment of this malignancy. Additionally, it provides a detailed break up of the costs that a patient is expected to bear during their course of treatment and the factors that affect the total cost of treatment.

Cervical Cancer Risk Factors

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women. There are several factors that increase the risk of cervical cancer, including the following:

HPV infection
It is one of the most common and important risk factors for cervical cancer. There are 100 different types of HPV infections that have been so far linked to cancer. HPV spreads to sexual contact with a person who is infected.
Lower immunity
Women with a deficient immune system are at a greater risk of developing cervical cancer. This may result due to immune suppression from certain medications, viral infections, or treatment for other types of cancer.
Smoking
Smoking increases the risk of different types of cancers and cervical cancer is one of them. Women who smoke are twice as likely to develop cervical cancer than those who don’t.
Genital herpes
Women with genital herpes are more likely to develop cervical cancer than those with no risk of genital herpes.
Oral contraceptives
Several studies suggest that there could be an association between the use of oral contraceptive pills and the increased risk of cervical cancer. However, the cause-and-effect relationship has not been proven yet.

Irrespective of the risk factors, all women aged 30 and above are advised to undergo cervical cancer screening at regular intervals. This is because the risk of cancer also increases with age. Cervical cancer rarely affected girls aged 15 and below, however, its risk increases with an increase in age. Women in their late 20s and early to mid-30s should get HPV vaccination. Women over 40 are at the highest risk and they must get both HPV vaccine and Pap Smear done at regular intervals.

Factors Affecting The Cost of Cervical Cancer Treatment

The total cervical cancer treatment cost depends on how early or late it has been diagnosed. The overall cost of treatment of cervical cancer depends on a country’s internal policies and hospital pricing. However, there are specific universal factors that dictate the total treatment bill, irrespective of the physical location of the patient.

The Stage of Cervical Cancer
The most important factor that decides the course of treatment and eventually, the cost, is the stage and grade of cancer. The treatment that the doctor recommends depends on the results of the initial investigations.

The Type of Surgery Conducted
Depending on the extent and stage of cancer, the doctors may decide to conduct one of the following types of surgical procedures:

Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP)
This technique is essentially used to stop cervical cancer from spreading. The doctors conduct LEEP when they identify a few abnormal cells in the cervix. It involves the use of a small electrical wire loop to remove the abnormal cells from the cervix.
Conization
This technique involves the excision of a cone-shaped sample of tissue from the cervix. The same sample can then be used to conduct a biopsy and see if the cells are cancerous. It is mostly used to remove the precancerous cells.
Laser Surgery
In this technique, laser energy is used to destroy the abnormal cells in the cervix. The laser can be used in combination with conization or LEEP technique as well.
Cryosurgery
It involves the use of freezing gas to destroy the precancerous cells in the cervix. Cancer or pre-cancerous cells are destroyed so that the new cells can grow.
Hysterectomy
This involves the complete removal of the uterus along with the Fallopian tube and the ovaries. A hysterectomy is done when cancer has spread beyond the cervix and reached other parts of the reproductive system or organs.

Therefore, the total cost of treatment depends on what approach the doctors follow to remove the cancerous cells. Each of these procedures cost differently and therefore, has an effect on the total expenditure that the patient has to bear.
The Experience and Fees of the Team Involved
The total cost that the patient has to bear also depends on the experience and the fees of the medical team involved. The team may involve medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists, Additionally, there are anesthesiologists, nurses, and other specialists involved that deliver care to the patient.
Other Variables
Some of the other factors that affect the overall cost of cervical cancer treatment include the following:

• Type and location of the hospital
• Cost of medicines and consumables
• The total duration of stay in the hospitals
• Type of hospital room
• Cross consultation fees
• Cost of rehabilitation (if needed)
• Accommodation expenses
• Food expenses

Average Cost of Cervical Cancer Treatment: Top Countries

The following table highlights the average cost of cervical cancer treatment in some of the top medical tourism destinations in the world:

Procedure	Hysterectomy	Chemotherapy	Radiation Therapy
India	$2000 to $5000	$650 to $1100	–
Thailand	$3124 to $12440	$553 to $3360	$12150 to $15000
Singapore	$5000 to $20000	–	–
UAE	$3355 to $8950	–	$22000 to $36790
Turkey	$4400 to $8500	$7420 to $30560	$2500 to $10000
US	$9827 to $27000	$10000 to $200000	$7500 to $25000

Cervical Cancer Surgery Cost Itemized Breakdown

Pre-surgery Costs	Surgery Cost	Post-surgery Costs
Physical examination Pelvic examination Biopsy and staging of cancer PAP test HPV typing Colposcopy X-Ray CT scan MRI PET Scan Cystoscopy Laparoscopy (if required) Anticoagulants and antibiotics Painkillers	Surgery team fees Anesthesia charges OT charges Other consumables and medicines Blood transfusion, if needed ICU charges Biopsy excision cost Technique handling charges	Medications for pain relief Follow-up costs Routine PAP tests Other special consumables Medications Hospital room charges Biopsy Any additional service availed Any other consultation Complications management Unanticipated care Follow-up cost Adjuvant chemotherapy Radiation therapy

Cost of Accommodation, Food, and Local Travel

Patients who travel from abroad to a particular country for treatment have to bear an additional cost of hotel accommodation, local traveling, and food. This additional cost on top of the treatment cost depends on individual preferences. For example, a patient may decide to stay in a 3-star, 4-star or a 5-star accommodation and prefer to eat exquisite cuisine during his or her stay. The cost increases with an increase in the level of luxury that a patient looks to have.

The following table highlights the approximate cost of accommodation and food in some of the most popular medical tourism destinations:

Cost (per day)	India	Thailand	Dubai	Hungary	Turkey	Singapore
Stay (3-star)	$30	$25	$70	$30	$20	$60
Stay (4-star)	$40	$36	$80	$45	$30	$90
Stay (5-star)	$75	$76	$115	$80	$44	$120
Meal for Two Individuals	$20	$26	$50	$35	$42	$90

Internationally Recognized JCI-certified Hospitals For Cervical Cancer Treatment

Best Hospitals for Cervical Cancer Treatment in India

Best Hospitals for Cervical Cancer Treatment in Turkey

Best Hospitals for Cervical Cancer Treatment in Thailand

Best Hospitals for Cervical Cancer Treatment in UAE

Best Hospitals for Cervical Cancer Treatment in Singapore

Country	Hospital
India	Indraprastha Apollo Hospital (Delhi NCR)
	Artemis Hospital (Delhi NCR)
	SevenHills Hospital (Mumbai)
	Fortis Group of Hospitals (Pan India)
Turkey	Hisar Intercontinental Hospitals
	Medicana International
	Memorial Healthcare Group
Thailand	Vejthani Hospital
	Bangkok Hospital
UAE	Zulekha Hospital (Dubai)
	Aster DM Healthcare (Dubai)
	Al Zahra Hospital (Sharjah)
	NMC Royal Hospital (Abu Dhabi)
Singapore	Gleneagles Hospital
	Parkway East Hospital
	Mount Elizabeth Hospital

Tips To Choose A Hospital Overseas For Cervical Cancer Treatment

While it is important to choose a hospital that has been in operation since many years, has experienced doctors, and is accredited, it is also important to make sure that they are providing a reasonable quote for treatment. And for them to provide the right quote, it is important that you share your complete medical history with them.

To be able to get a quote from the hospital that is the closest approximation of the total cost of treatment, do the following:

• Inform them about your complete medical history in detail. Tell them about the clinical status, underlying medical conditions, diagnosis, and the problems that you are experiencing.
• Send as many recent reports as available to them. If possible, undergo all diagnostic tests (if feasible) in your own country before you seek a treatment opinion. This is because in the case of cancer treatment, including cervical cancer, it is not possible to explain the course of treatment unless the doctors are sure about how far cancer has spread or how dangerous it is.
• When the recent medical reports that confirm the diagnosis, stage, and grade of the cancer are available, the doctor is able to advise a course of treatment. Therefore, the cost in such cases is more accurate than in the cases wherein diagnosis has not been thoroughly conducted.

While cost is one of the leading factors that patients consider while traveling to India, there are several other factors that one must look for.

Other Tips

• Check for doctor’s profile and his credentials
• Speak to the doctor to analyze whether he or she has a proper understanding of your case
• Look for hospital reviews online
• Check for the accreditation of the hospital
• Look for facilities that the hospital in providing
• Check how far or close the hospital is to the airport or to the accommodation booked
• Check out if the hospital has all the facilities that you need and has specialists for cross consultation (if needed)

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Internationally Known Doctors For Cervical Cancer Treatment

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