Colon Cancer Treatment in India: Cost, Leading Hospitals & Top Doctors

One of the most life-threatening diseases is Colon cancer, which is a type of cancer that originates from the intestine. Among all the parts of the digestive tract, the colon is the final part. Getting the colon cancer treatment is very important to prevent any type of problem. According to the studies and reports, 1 out of 25 women and 1 out of 21 men tend to develop colon cancer in their lifetime. In Africa, people between the age of 50-60 and 70-80 are at very high risk of colon cancer. Visit the hospitals in India such as Fortis and Medanta to get the best treatment at an affordable price.

This cancer can happen to any person of any age, older people have a high risk of developing it. Chances of having colon cancer in women are slightly lower than men. In the initial stage, cancer begins as polyps (noncancerous clumps of cells) inside the colon. But some of these polyps turn into cancer with increasing time. Polyps are very small and produce very few symptoms that make it very hard to detect. So, regular screening is very important to get early colon cancer treatment on detection. 

Regular colon cancer screening helps the doctors to detect and remove the polyps before they turn into cancer. You do not need to worry about curing cancer, as there are many treatments available. In some cases, colon cancer combines with rectum cancer, which is called colorectal cancer. March is known to be as the colon cancer awareness month when healthcare professionals wear blue ribbons to support the patients.

What are the Indications for Colon Cancer Treatment in India?

The colectomy procedure is used to treat various colon diseases including cancer, diverticulitis, inflammatory diseases, or any other diseases that cannot be treated with medications. The common indications for colon cancer treatment are explained below.

• Crohn’s Disease: It is an inflammatory disease. It causes severe inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract from the stomach up to the anus.
• Ulcerative Colitis: It is also an inflammatory disease. It causes chronic ulcers in the lining of your colon which leads to severe inflammation.
• Diverticulitis: It is an inflammatory disease of the GI tract. It causes inflammation in the small pockets (known as diverticula) that develop in the lining of the colon. It generally affects elderly people.
• Large intestine obstruction: This condition is characterized by chronic blockage of the colon which may be caused by a volvulus (twist), or by stricture (narrowing) of the colon. 
• Precancerous stage: If you have a family history of colon cancer such as Lynch Syndrome or Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), or if your colonoscopy test shows that you have an increased chance of developing cancer in a particular part of your colon, then your surgeon may suggest you opt for a colectomy to remove the colon part that is at high risk of developing cancer.
• Severe Bleeding: An injury in the colon may lead to uncontrolled bleeding that cannot be treated from outside. If the bleeding in the colon is not stopped, it can cause major complications. Hence, colectomy comes to the rescue.

What are the Stages of Colon Cancer?

Knowing the stage of colon cancer is very important for doctors to perform colon cancer treatment. It also gives the doctors the time to execute a plan and come up with the best procedure for your treatment. There are a total of 4 colon cancer stages, and details of these stages are given below. 

■ Stage 1:

Stage one is the initial stage of colon cancer, where it has not spread to the walls of the organ but penetrated the mucosa or the lining of the rectum. 

■ Stage 2:

In the second stage, cancer has not affected the tissues or the nodes of lymph but it has already affected the rectum walls. 

■ Stage 3:

In this stage, one of the three lymph nodes is affected by cancer but it has not yet spread to the other parts of the body.

■ Stage 4:

This is the most dangerous stage, where the other nearby organs of the body are also affected by cancer including the liver, lungs, and many more.  

What are the Symptoms of Colon Cancer?

Generally, there are very few direct symptoms of colon cancer that are available in the early stages. But in the later stages, some of the symptoms start to appear. Detecting them with regular screening is very important to get colon cancer treatment. Some of the common symptoms of colon cancer are given below. 

• Unexpected weight loss
• Blood in the stool, bleeding from the rectum
• Unexplained change in bowel movements and bowel habits
• Unexpected constipation or diarrhoea
• Fatigue or weakness 
• Frequent pain, gas, and cramps and other abdominal discomforts
• Changes in the color of the stool
• Changes in the shape of the stool and thickness of the stool
• Unexplained blood in the stool
• Continue vomiting

Apart from these, there are some of the other symptoms including discomfort in the belly, loss of hunger, anemia because of the bedding in intestines, pain in the pelvic. Most of these symptoms of colon cancer appear in stage 3 colon cancer and stage 4 colon cancer. But detecting them early and taking a screening can eliminate the chances of cancer in the early stages. 

What are the Causes of Colon Cancer?

Researchers are still studying the case of colon cancer. However, the basic reason for cancer is the same as the abnormal growth of a specific body part. The prevalence of this disease has increased in this era with high chances of fatality. This can be combined with other critical conditions to the development of more severe complications in the human body.

■ Precancerous Growth: 

Abnormal cells accumulated in the lining of colon and formations of polyps are the main reason for such cancer. It is a small benign growth and removal of these growths is done for colon cancer treatment. However, these enlarged structures or polyps can complicate the situation through the formation of a cancerous situation.

■ Gene Mutation:

Colon cancer sometimes occurs due to inheritance, which is obtained from family sources. In this case, gene mutation passed on the next generation from parent to child can create an adverse situation and provide the risk of cases. However, these mutations are not confirmed for cancerous growth. Colorectal cancer or colon cancers are developed in the DNA in the cells in the colon area and rectum, which develops mutations for uncontrolled growth and division. In many cases, such mutation can attack the immune system and infect the victim or it may die without infecting periphery. It will give no time to perform any type of colon cancer treatment.

The formation of a tumor can be seen from this infection and abnormal growth of that part. Inherited syndromes lined with colon cancers are known, which are FAP and HNPCC. The risk factor develops from this mutation, which is Lynch syndrome and TURCOT syndrome. The proper reason for this cancer is unknown, however, risk factors linked to the disease can constitute a high chance of such occurrence. In this type of cancer, diet habits, tobacco use, smoking, and a high level of alcohol consumption can constitute the risk of certain cancer causes. It can make the situation worse where no colon cancer treatment will have any effect. 

What are the Options for Colon Cancer Treatment in India?

A number of methods are available for colon cancer treatment in different stages. Factors affecting colon cancer prognosis including different stages can be treated through the advanced method of the healthcare intervention. If you are looking from Africa and to get cured, then you can choose some of the best hospitals in India to get colon cancer treatment including Artemis Hospital, Max Super Speciality Hospital and more. Some of the common ways of treatment are given below. 

1. Chemotherapy:

Chemotherapy is one of the common ways to treat colon cancer in which doctors use drugs to kill the cells of cancer. Also, this method of treatment might be performed after the surgery to kill the remaining cells of cancer. The growth of cancer can be controlled with the help of chemotherapy. But you need to be cautious to choose this method as it comes with many side effects.

2. Surgery: 

If the doctors can detect the signs of colon cancer in the earlier stages with the help of screening, then they use this method. With the help of a colectomy surgery, doctors remove the polyps that might turn into cancer cells in the future and prevent any type of cancer. In the later stages of cancer, this method of colon cancer treatment might need to remove a part of the rectum. 

3. Radiation:

This is one of the very famous colon cancer treatment which uses the x-ray and other powerful beams of energy to destroy cancer cells. Doctors might perform radiation after or before surgery or alongside the chemotherapy to kill the remaining cells. 

What are the Types of Colectomy Surgery in India for Colon Cancer?

There are various types of colectomy procedures. Based on how much portion of your colon has to be removed, your surgeon will decide which colectomy procedure to choose. Depending on your condition and suitable treatment, your surgeon may perform one of the following colectomy procedures. The different colectomy types are mentioned below.

• Total Colectomy: In this procedure, an entire colon is removed i.e. starting from the small intestine and ending to the rectum. 
• Partial Colectomy: It is also known as Subtotal Colectomy. In this procedure, only a portion of the colon is removed. There are many subtypes of these procedures which are mentioned below.
• Sigmoid Colectomy: It is also known as Sigmoidectomy. In this procedure, only the last portion (known as the sigmoid colon) of the colon which is connected to the rectum is removed. 
• Hemicolectomy: The hemicolectomy procedure involves, the removal of only one side of the colon. If the descending colon is removed, it is known as a left-side hemicolectomy and if the ascending colon is removed, it is known as a right-side hemicolectomy. The ascending colon is the first half portion of a colon and the descending colon is the latter half portion of a colon.
• Proctocolectomy: Proto refers to the rectum. In this procedure, the rectum is also removed along with either a part of the colon or an entire colon.

What are the Procedures Followed by Colectomy Surgery in India?

After successfully removing the entire colon or a part of the colon, the remaining portion of the colon needs to be connected in order to maintain the body’s ability to remove the food waste from the digestive tract. Your surgeon may perform the following procedure right after the colectomy or it may be done later. 

■ Anastomosis:

This procedure is done right away following colectomy. In this procedure, the two ends from which the part of the colon is removed, are connected to each other to make your intestine complete again. 

■ Colostomy:

It is also referred to as Ileostomy: This procedure is done later after the colectomy procedure. It is done when the colon ends cannot be connected right after colectomy. In this procedure, the surgeon creates an opening known as a stoma inside the wall of the abdomen. And the end parts of the severed colon are redirected to this stoma. A bag/pouch is attached to the stoma that will collect the feces. It could be temporary or permanent.

■ Ileaoanal Anastomosis:

This procedure is mostly done if a patient has a proctocolectomy surgery. In this procedure, the surgeon creates a pouch from the portion of the small intestine and attaches it to the anus. This will help in eliminating the feces from the body.

How is Recovery after Colon Cancer Surgery in India?

After the colon cancer surgery is completed, you will be taken to the recovery room to monitor your condition until the anesthesia wears off. Colectomy is a major surgery and requires a long recovery time. After the procedure, you might need to stay at the hospital for a few days to a week. You will be fed with the fluids through an IV in your arm initially, and then you will slowly start to consume a clear liquid diet. Your intestine will gradually start to recover and you will start to eat soft food. If you have a pouch (stoma) attached to your abdomen to store the feces, your nurse will guide you in taking care of the stoma and how to change an ostomy bag that collects the feces. You may feel discomfort and pain for the first few days after the surgery but as you rest and recover, you will be fine. Before you leave from the hospital, your surgeon will guide you on how to take care of the surgical wound, what diet to consume, how to change the bag, etc.

Best Doctors for Colon Cancer Surgery in India

India is home to some of the best doctors for colon cancer surgery, recognised for their advanced surgical expertise, high success rates, and quality patient-centric care. These specialists are skilled in laparoscopic colectomy, robotic colon cancer surgery, minimally invasive colorectal procedures, and complex tumour removal. With access to world-class cancer centres, these doctors offer high-success rates and recovery outcomes. Let's hear from some of our leading colon cancer doctors in India:

1. Dr. Anshuman Kaushal

2. Dr. Rajesh Puri

3. Dr. V. P. Bhalla

4. Dr.  K. N. Srivastava

What is the Cost of Colon Cancer Surgery in India?

The total and final cost of the colon cancer surgery in India is controlled by many factors like infrastructure and facilities of the chosen hospital, reputation and expertise of your surgeon, what type of colectomy is done, before and after surgery care, your travel cost, medicines cost, patient’s overall health, insurance coverage, etc. However, the average cost of colectomy surgery (including surgical procedure, pre-surgery consultations, post-surgery care, and hospitalization cost) in India ranges from $5,000 to $10,000. This cost of this surgery is affordable for patients coming from different countries because they cannot get the same quality treatment at a low cost in any other country. 

As you can tell from the costs mentioned above, it is obvious that the cost of a colectomy procedure in India is profitable making it an agreeable option for global patients seeking the best and most affordable treatments.

What is the Success Rate of Colon Cancer Treatment in India?

The success rate of colon cancer depends on the different stages of cancer. If you receive colon cancer treatment in stage 1, then the chance of success is between 80-95%. In the later stages of colon cancer, the percentage keeps decreasing. In stage 2, you have a chance of surviving 55-80%. In stage 3 of colon cancer, the success rate is nearly 40%. In stage 4, the chance of curing colon cancer comes down to as low as 10%.

Make sure to attend regular screenings and in the appearance of listed symptoms, go to the doctor to get yourself treated.

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