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Minimum Cost
$ 6750
Maximum Cost.
$ 12000
- Days In Hospital 10 days
- Outside Hospital Stay 30 days
- Success Rate 66%
Overview of Pancreatic Cancer in India
The organ beneath the stomach, the pancreas, is where pancreatic cancer begins to grow. The two main roles of the pancreas are blood sugar control and food digesting. The development of pancreatic cancer disrupts the organ's natural function and causes a number of issues, including diabetes, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. Pancreatic cancer can be treated surgically using the Whipple procedure, but it can also be used in conjunction with radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
For Indian patients, the cost of pancreatic cancer treatment ranges from $4500 to $6,000. For patients from abroad, the cost ranges from USD 6,750 to USD 8,250. The cost of the treatment varies depending on a number of factors, including the type of surgery, the hospital's facilities, the fees charged by the doctors, the surgeon's expertise and skill, diagnostic procedures, and the expenses of radiation and chemotherapy. Medical services and treatment in India are comparable to those found in the greatest hospitals in the world.
What Is Pancreatic Cancer?
Your pancreatic cells can mutate (alter) and proliferate uncontrollably, resulting in a tumour. This is known as pancreatic cancer. Your pancreas is a gland located between your stomach and spine in your abdomen, or belly. It generates digestive enzymes and hormones that control blood sugar levels.
Your pancreatic ducts are where the majority of pancreatic malignancies begin. Your pancreas and common bile duct are connected by the central pancreatic duct, also known as the duct of Wirsung.
Imaging tests are unable to detect pancreatic tumours in their early stages. Because of this, a lot of people aren't diagnosed with cancer until it has spread (metastasised). Additionally, pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to treat because it is resistant to several common cancer medications.
The development of novel imaging techniques and early diagnosis via genetic testing are the main areas of ongoing study. There is still a lot to learn.
Types of Pancreatic Cancer:
Pancreatic tumours come in two primary varieties:
Exocrine cancers: These tumours account for more than 90% of all pancreatic tumours. The cells lining the organs are the starting point for adenocarcinoma, the most prevalent form of pancreatic cancer.
Neuroendocrine tumours: Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) make up less than 10% of pancreatic tumours. A neuroendocrine tumour (NET) is also known as islet cell cancer.
Four categories are used by medical professionals to classify pancreatic tumours:
Resectable: The tumour exclusively affects your pancreas; no other organs or blood vessels are affected. It can be surgically removed by a provider.
Borderline resectable: A surgeon can still remove the tumour even when it is in your pancreas and some surrounding blood vessels are affected.
Locally advanced: Your pancreas has a tumour that has significantly affected the blood vessels in the area. In certain situations, surgical excision may be risky or challenging.
Metastatic: The cancer has spread to other parts of your body, like your lungs, liver, or lower abdomen. You may have lymph nodes, tissues, or organs close to your pancreas where it has spread.
Speak with your healthcare professional if you have particular questions regarding the staging of pancreatic cancer. Making an informed treatment decision might be aided by being aware of your pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
Procedure:
Certain aspects determine the specific treatment, such as:
- The tumor's precise location.
- Which stage is it?
- General well-being.
- If the cancer has progressed outside of your pancreas.
Treatments for pancreatic cancer include:
Surgery
The only practical treatment for pancreatic cancer is surgery. However, surgeons only suggest it if they believe they can eradicate all of the cancer. There is minimal to no advantage otherwise.
The malignancy needs to be entirely contained within the pancreas for surgery to be successful. Even then, it might not be able to completely eradicate the malignancy.
Depending on where and how big the tumour is, there are a few distinct surgical techniques:
Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy)
The Whipple surgery might be suggested by your doctor if the tumour is located in the head of your pancreas, which is the widest region of the organ and is close to your small intestine. The head of your pancreas, your gallbladder, your duodenum (the first section of your small intestine), a section of your bile duct, and any surrounding lymph nodes are all removed during this surgical procedure.
The pancreas and remaining bile duct will then be connected to your small intestine by your surgeon. Your digestive tract gets restored as a result.
Distal pancreatectomy
A distal pancreatectomy can be performed by a surgeon if the tumour is located at the tail of the pancreas. Your pancreas' tail and a portion of its body are removed by the surgeon during this treatment. They will typically also remove your spleen.
Because the spleen aids in the fight against infections, your doctor could advise receiving specific immunisations prior to a distal pancreatectomy.
Total pancreatectomy
Your doctor might think about a total pancreatectomy if the cancer has spread over your entire pancreas but resection (removal) is still feasible. Your entire pancreas, gallbladder, spleen, and a portion of your stomach and small intestine are removed during this procedure.
Living without a pancreas is feasible, but there may be serious consequences. The hormones that regulate blood sugar levels, including insulin, are produced by your pancreas. You will acquire diabetes without a pancreas and require insulin shots to stay alive. To aid in digestion, you will also need to take pancreatic enzyme supplements.
Chemotherapy
Drugs used in chemotherapy destroy cancer cells. These medications are administered by medical professionals via intravenous (IV) in your arm or as pills.
Particularly for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, providers employ chemotherapy as a stand-alone treatment. Additionally, they could advise chemotherapy to reduce the tumour before surgery or to eradicate any cancer cells that may still be present after surgery.
Radiation therapy
High-energy X-rays are used in radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells. When treating pancreatic cancer, medical professionals frequently employ this strategy.
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are most frequently combined by providers (chemoradiation). They might suggest it as part of your primary cancer treatment, before to, or following surgery. People who are not candidates for surgery (in situations of advanced cancer) can also benefit from radiation therapy to reduce the symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
Targeted therapy
Drugs used in this treatment "target" specific proteins. The growth and dissemination of cancer cells are regulated by these proteins. Targeted therapy may be used in conjunction with radiation therapy or other treatments.
For pancreatic cancer, common targeted treatment medications include:
- Erlotinib.
- Olaparib.
- Larotrectinib.
- Entrectinib.
Pain management
Because it may affect adjacent nerves, pancreatic cancer can be extremely painful. Your doctor may prescribe steroid injections, anaesthesia, or oral drugs to help you manage your pain.
Inform your healthcare professional if you have pancreatic cancer and begin to experience intense, ongoing discomfort. They are able to locate a remedy that can alleviate your difficulties.
Best Doctors in India
Cost of Pancreatic Cancer in India
The condition and preferences of the patient also affect the procedure's total cost. Among these are:
- hospital type and the chosen room type (single, twin sharing, or general)
- The cancer's stage and type
- Following surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, patients may need additional testing with PET CT and related procedures.
- Throughout the duration of treatment, any further tests might be necessary to determine the disease's current state.
- A prolonged hospital stay
- Cost of lodging for follow-ups, if the patient does not live nearby [may take longer in case of chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments]
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Indications of Pancreatic Cancer:
Symptoms of advanced pancreatic cancer are experienced by patients. The existence of pancreatic cancer is not confirmed by the appearance of a few symptoms. Other underlying medical disorders could be the cause of the symptoms. The following are some signs of pancreatic cancer:
Back or Abdominal discomfort: Pancreatic cancer may result in back or abdominal discomfort. Cancer may cause the pancreas to enlarge, pressing on nearby organs and causing pain. Additionally, discomfort is also caused by the pancreas compressing the surrounding nerves.
Jaundice: The pancreatic head is located close to the bile duct. If pancreatic cancer begins in the head, jaundice could be an early-stage sign. The onset of jaundice may be advanced if the malignancy starts in the pancreatic body or tail. The bile duct becomes obstructed as a result of the compression caused by the pancreatic growth. As a result, the body accumulates bile and has elevated bilirubin levels.
Liver or Gallbladder Enlargement: Liver or gallbladder enlargement might be brought on by pancreatic cancer. Gallbladder enlargement results from bile accumulation in the gallbladder when malignancy clogs the bile duct. When pancreatic cancer spreads to the liver, it can also result in liver enlargement.
Diabetes: Cells in the pancreas secrete insulin. Diabetes symptoms may appear in the patient if the malignancy affects these cells. Diabetes is characterised by excessive thirst and hunger, frequent urination, and chronic exhaustion.
Symptoms of nausea and vomiting: Pancreatic cancer can also result in stomach issues. The patient can feel queasy and throw up. When eating, the patient may have significant stomach ache.
Blood Clots: Blood clots may be the initial indication of pancreatic cancer in certain circumstances. The legs are where blood clots typically form. Deep vein thrombosis is the name given to this condition. Respiratory problems may occasionally result from the blood clot moving to the lungs.
Weight Loss Without Cause: Patients with pancreatic cancer may lose weight without cause, just like those with many other malignancies.
Appetite Loss: Muscle protein breaks down and people with pancreatic cancer burn more calories than they should. Additionally, it decreases the patients' appetite.
Fatigue or Weakness: The pancreatic cancer patient feels extremely exhausted and worn out.
Risk Factors:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
There live the blind texts separated they right at the coast of the Semantics.
A person with pancreatic cancer typically only has a 12-month life expectancy after being diagnosed. However, survival rates differ according on the cancer's stage at diagnosis, with a better prognosis usually associated with earlier stages. The length of survival is also influenced by variables such as the type of cancer, personal health, and available treatments.
Pancreatic cancer is more likely to strike people who have risk factors such as smoking, obesity, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, a family history of the disease, or specific genetic abnormalities.
The etiology of pancreatic cancer is complex and includes both environmental and genetic variables. Chronic pancreatitis, obesity, diabetes, and smoking are known risk factors, yet the precise aetiology is still unknown. Cancer can result from unchecked cell development caused by genetic alterations that are either inherited or acquired over time.