1. What is Cancer & When to Seek Care

Cancer is uncontrolled cell growth. Early diagnosis improves outcomes; international patients choose India for advanced diagnostics, experienced teams, and cost-effective care.

Types & Causes

  • Solid tumours: breast, lung, colorectal, liver, prostate, head & neck.
  • Blood cancers: leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma.
  • Causes: genetics, infections (HBV/HCV/HPV), environment, lifestyle, age.

Symptoms & Urgency

  • Persistent lumps, unexplained weight loss, bleeding, chronic cough.
  • Urgency varies — aggressive cancers need immediate treatment; others allow planning.

2. Step-by-step Treatment Pathway (International Patients)

  1. Upload reports: PET-CT/MRI (DICOM preferred), biopsy, blood tests.
  2. Specialist review: Multidisciplinary tumour board recommendations.
  3. Hospital & plan: Itemised cost estimate (USD & INR) and timeline.
  4. Travel support: Medical invitation, visa letters, flight & stay planning.
  5. Arrival & staging: Repeat or confirm tests as needed.
  6. Treatment: Surgery / chemo / radiation / BMT per plan.
  7. Recovery & rehab: Physiotherapy, nutrition, psychosocial care.
  8. Follow-up: Teleconsults and long-term survivorship plan.

Hospital stay estimates

  • Surgery: 5–10 days (ICU 1–3 days typical for major resections).
  • Chemotherapy: Outpatient day-care or short admission per cycle.
  • Radiation: Daily fractions over 1–6 weeks depending on protocol.
  • BMT: 3–6 weeks inpatient + months follow-up.

3. Treatment Options in India (Simple)

Advanced tech explained

CyberKnife / Gamma Knife: Non-invasive radiosurgery for small/hidden tumours. Robotic surgery: Precision resections with faster recovery. Tomotherapy / IMRT: Targeted radiation sparing healthy tissue.

4. Costs — Itemised & How They Vary

Below are indicative ranges. We provide personalised quotes after reviewing reports.

Treatment / Item Approx (USD) Approx (INR)
Major cancer surgery $3,500 – $15,000 ₹3.0L – ₹12.5L
Chemotherapy (per cycle) $300 – $1,200 ₹25k – ₹1L
Radiation therapy (course) $3,000 – $6,000 ₹2.5L – ₹5L
Immunotherapy (per dose) $1,500 – $3,800 ₹1.2L – ₹3.1L
Bone marrow transplant $18,000 – $42,000 ₹15L – ₹36L
ICU (per day) $180 – $480 ₹15k – ₹40k
Hotel (attendant) per day $18 – $50 ₹1.5k – ₹4.5k

Why costs differ

  • Cancer stage & complexity
  • Drug type (biologics are costlier)
  • Hospital class (tier-1 vs regional)
  • ICU/hospital stay length & rehab needs

Extra expenses & cost-saving tips

  • Extra: visa, flights, accommodation, advanced diagnostics, extended rehab
  • Save: package negotiation, generic drugs, efficient test consolidation

5. Best Hospitals & Why

We work with JCI/NABH-accredited, high-volume centres. High-volume hospitals deliver better outcomes due to experience, multidisciplinary teams and stronger ICU support.

  • Equipment: PET-CT, hybrid ORs, stereotactic suites, robotic systems.
  • Certifications: JCI, NABH — markers of quality & safety.

6. Doctor Profiles (Sample)

Dr. Priya Sharma
Medical Oncologist — 18 yrs experience. Specialises in breast & lung cancer. Trained in UK. Languages: English, Hindi.
Prof. Rajiv Menon
Radiation Oncologist — IMRT, SBRT & TomoTherapy lead. 25 yrs experience. Languages: English.
Dr. Ananya Gupta
Hemato-Oncologist — BMT specialist. 15+ yrs experience. Languages: English, Hindi.

(Replace placeholders with confirmed partner clinicians and credentials.)

7. Recovery, Success Rates & Lifestyle Guidance

Recovery timelines: simple surgeries: weeks; chemo courses: months; BMT: months to a year for immune recovery.

Success & expectations: Early-stage cancers often have high cure/control rates; advanced cancers typically focus on disease control and quality of life. Your specialist will provide prognosis estimates tailored to your case.

Post-treatment lifestyle

  • Balanced nutrition and gradual exercise
  • Avoid smoking & excessive alcohol
  • Attend scheduled surveillance scans and clinic visits
  • Psychological support & survivorship programs as needed

8. Risks & Complications — Clear, Simple

Treatments have side effects; Indian hospitals reduce risk through advanced monitoring, accredited ICUs, infection control and experienced teams.

  • Surgery: bleeding, infection, organ-specific complications.
  • Chemotherapy: low blood counts, infection risk, nausea.
  • Radiation: local tissue effects, fatigue.
  • BMT: graft-vs-host disease (allogeneic), prolonged immune suppression.

Patient role: follow pre-op instructions, disclose full medical history, maintain hygiene and report symptoms immediately.

9. Required Medical Reports (Before Travel)

  • Pathology / biopsy reports and slides (if available)
  • Imaging: PET-CT, CT, MRI — DICOM recommended
  • Blood work: CBC, LFT, RFT, tumor markers
  • Previous treatment records: operation notes, chemo/radiation records
  • Passport copy & current medications

Send clear scans and translations (if not English) to avoid delays. Use secure upload links Medway provides.

10. Logistics for International Patients

  • Visa: medical invitation letters provided by hospitals; Medway assists with documentation.
  • Airport pickup: arranged on request.
  • Interpreters: available for common languages (Arabic, French, Swahili, Somali, Russian).
  • Accommodation: patient hotels, service apartments, guesthouses near hospitals.
  • Tele-followups: typically 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and as advised; customizable.

11. Patient Stories

“Medway Horizons arranged my PET-CT, visa letter and surgery within a week. My chemotherapy plan began smoothly and follow-ups are excellent.” — Jennifer, Nigeria
“My father’s liver resection and adjuvant therapy were handled with compassion. Airport pickup and translator helped our family.” — Hassan, Oman
“Clear cost breakdown and a supportive care team. Medway coordinated everything and teleconsults after we returned home were reassuring.” — Miriam, Kenya

12. Frequently Asked Questions

How soon can treatment start after I decide to come?
Usually 2–7 days after medical review and travel arrangements; urgent cases are expedited.
Will I receive an itemised estimate before travel?
Yes — we send a written USD & INR estimate listing hospital, procedure, ICU, tests and typical drug costs.
Can I get a remote second opinion?
Yes — teleconsultations and written second opinions are available from our specialist panel.
Are translators available?
Yes — in-person or phone interpreters can be arranged.
Can companions stay with me?
Yes — we assist with attendant accommodation and logistics.
Do hospitals provide medical visa letters?
Yes — accredited hospitals issue the necessary letters; Medway guides you through the process.
What emergency support is available during my stay?
Hospitals have 24/7 emergency and critical care; your Medway coordinator is on-call for urgent support.
How do I send large imaging files?
Use the secure upload link we provide (DICOM preferred). We accept zipped files or cloud links.
Are COVID & infection protocols followed?
Yes — hospitals implement strict infection control and screening measures.
Can Medway help with insurance paperwork?
We provide documentation; pre-authorization depends on your insurer.
How many follow-up teleconsults are included?
Typically at least 1–2 follow-ups; long-term plans are case-dependent.
Are NGO or financial help options available?
Some hospitals offer financing or social support; we can discuss options when preparing your plan.