Are you looking for information on Pancreatic Cancer Surgery In India? Find out answers to all questions on how you can plan a medical trip for pancreatic cancer treatment in India and get treated in no time.
Table of Contents
Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:
- What is Pancreatic Cancer?
- Treatment Options
- How to plan a medical trip for pancreatic cancer treatment in India?
- What to expect during pancreatic cancer treatment in India?
- Cost of Pancreatic Cancer Treatment in India
- Why should you prefer India for Pancreatic cancer treatment?
1. What is Pancreatic Cancer?
Pancreatic cancer can be defined as a severe health condition in which cancerous cells start forming in the pancreas, a vital endocrine organ that is located behind the stomach.
In the human body, the pancreas performs two critical functions:
- It makes juices that assist in the digestion of food.
- It produces hormones like glucagon and insulin that are helpful for controlling the levels of blood sugar. Glucagon and insulin help the human body use and store energy derived from food.
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Risk Factors leading to Pancreatic Cancer
The risk factors for Pancreatic Cancer include:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- A personal history of chronic pancreatitis or diabetes
- A family history of pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer
- Hereditary conditions like Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome, and Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome
- Signs And Symptoms Of Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer usually doesn’t cause early signs and symptoms but they may include:
- Dark-coloured urine
- Light-coloured stools
- Loss of appetite
- Pain in the middle/lower abdomen and back
- Unexplained weight loss
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Stages Of Pancreatic Cancer
If someone is diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, the doctor will first try to identify the extent of its spread through a process known as staging. It helps determine how to best treat the health complication and the extent of cancer in the body.
- Stage 0: This stage denotes that the cancer is restricted to the top layers of pancreatic duct cells and is yet to invade deeper tissues. Sometimes, these tumours are known as carcinoma in situ (Tis).
- Stage IA: The cancer is restricted to the pancreas and is not larger than 2 cm. This stage is also used to denote that cancer has not yet spread to distant sites or nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage IB: This stage denotes that the cancer is restricted to the pancreas and has a size larger than 2 cm but less than 4 cm. It also denotes that cancer has not yet spread to distant sites or nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage IIA: This stage denotes that the cancer is restricted to the pancreas and has a size larger than 4 cm. It also denotes that cancer has not yet spread to distant sites or nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage IIB: This stage denotes that the cancer is restricted to the pancreas and has spread to no more than three nearby lymph nodes but not to distant sites.
- Stage III: This stage denotes that the cancer is restricted to the pancreas and has spread to four or more nearby lymph nodes but not to distant sites.
- Stage IV: This stage denotes that cancer has spread to distant sites like the lungs, peritoneum, bones, or liver. It may be of any size but has not yet spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Before your pancreatic cancer surgery In India, the doctor may conduct one or more of the following tests:
- The doctor may recommend imaging tests to clearly visualise your internal organs such as the pancreas. For this, computerised tomography scans, ultrasound, positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be advised.
- An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) may be used wherein an ultrasound device is deployed for making images of the pancreas from inside the abdomen. This device is then passed through a flexible and thin tube known as an endoscope down the esophagus. It is later passed into the stomach for collecting the images.
- The doctor may recommend the removal of a tissue sample for testing through biopsy.
- The doctor may test the patient’s blood for tumour markers that are left by pancreatic cancer cells.
2. Treatment Options
There are several options to treat pancreatic cancer. Your surgeon will first conduct a detailed physical examination and decide the best treatment method for you. Some of the common ways to treat pancreatic cancer are:
Pancreatic surgery – Surgery is an option when the cancer is confined to a small area. Depending upon the case different types of surgeries may be recommended by the doctor such as:
- Laparoscopic surgery
- Whipple’s surgery
- Distal pancreatectomy
- Total pancreatectomy
Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy can be done on its own or in addition to the surgery. This helps in destruction of cancerous cells or inhibition of their growth. It can be first-line or second-line depending on the severity.
Radiotherapy- This involves use of a high-energy beam of x-rays to destroy the cancer cells. The radiotherapy can be done in the form of:
In India, you will get proper care and assistance from highly experienced surgeons with Medinirvana.
- Traditional radiotherapy
- Stereotactic body radiation or cyberknife
- Proton beam therapy
In India, you will get proper care and assistance from highly experienced surgeons who have years of experience in treating pancreatic cancer patients from all parts of the world.
3. How to plan a medical trip for pancreatic cancer treatment in India?
The first step before you finalise India as your preferred medical tourism destination for pancreatic cancer treatment is documentation.
It is important for you to arrange the following documents:
- All medical reports and history
- Your passport and medical visa
- Passport of the attendant and proof of relationship with the patient
- Proof of required funds
- Your photographs
- The hospital authorisation letter from the hospital in your resident country
- Details of your proposed accommodation in India
If you are looking to access the best pancreatic cancer treatment in India, Medinirvana can help you in more than just a way. Our network of elite pancreatic cancer hospitals in India and support teams can help you identify the right medical facility for your specific requirement and health condition.
We do understand that the majority of patients want to get treated at a medical facility closer to home. However, there is no denying the fact that world-class treatment in most countries is either sub-standard or too expensive. Moreover, patients have to wait for months and even years before they are treated. This is where Medinirvana comes into the picture as we help you with all formalities and documentation so you can access high-quality, successful pancreatic cancer treatment procedures without putting a hole in your pocket.
4. What to Expect during pancreatic cancer treatment in India?
The surgeon may recommend surgery for pancreatic cancer for removing a part or the entire pancreas. He or she may recommend laparoscopy, Whipple procedure, Distal pancreatectomy, chemotherapy, Stereotactic body radiation (SBRT), Traditional radiation therapy, Proton beam therapy, or Total pancreatectomy.
After surgery, you may be asked to stay for a few days in the hospital and rest for about 5-8 weeks at home. During this duration, the surgeon and his or her team will work closely on your recovery plan with you, including offering critical dietary and nutritional recommendations.
The recovery and healing period will primarily be dependent on factors like the type of surgery performed, the response of your body to the surgery and medications, your general and overall health, etc.
5. Cost of Pancreatic Cancer Treatment in India
The estimated cost of Pancreatic Cancer Treatment in India is about INR 5,00,000-7,00,000 though it may vary. This is primarily because the total and final cost depends on a variety of factors such as diagnostic tests, type of procedure performed, pre-and post-surgery expenses, length of stay in the pancreatic cancer hospital, the expertise of skilled surgeons, the type of accommodation opted for, etc.
You can always be assured of receiving the best Pancreatic Cancer treatment in India as Indian hospitals have a phenomenal success rate.
6. Why should you prefer India for Pancreatic cancer treatment?
One of the biggest advantages of choosing for your pancreatic cancer treatment is no or little waiting time. Secondly, you can access the best pancreatic cancer treatment options with advanced technologies at affordable pricing. Moreover, Indian hospitals have experienced teams of oncologists, radiation oncologists, and gastroenterologists who have treated thousands of patients with compassion and care. In addition to this, you can avail yourself of quick medical visas with just a few clicks.
Indian hospitals maintain the highest standards of hygiene and safety during today’s challenging pandemic times so that your health and safety is never compromised during or after pancreatic cancer surgery.
At Medinirvana, we will arrange everything for you so that you don’t have to worry more during your difficult times.
Take Away
Pancreatic cancer is a severe health condition as it grows and spreads at a quick pace and usually is diagnosed in its late stages. However, timely diagnosis and treatment by experienced medical professionals can help you recover in a quick time.
Choose Medinirvana now and find out how thousands of patients from all parts of the globe are exploring the best Pancreatic cancer treatment at reputed Indian hospitals. Don’t wait for a miracle to happen, act now by calling us. Our teams of experienced and helpful professionals are always there for you.
References
1^ What is Pancreatic Cancer? | Cancer.gov | December 29, 2020
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