How much does Proton Therapy Cost in India?

Proton therapy is a cancer treatment method using radiation, i.e. high-powered energy. Proton therapy is an advanced, newer type of radiation therapy that uses energy from positively charged particles (protons), while conventional radiation therapy uses X-rays and has long been used as a method of treating cancer. Let's discuss about the hospitals, proton therapy cost in India and other popular cities.

Proton therapy has shown potential for treating various cancers. Studies have indicated that it may cause fewer side effects than traditional radiation, as doctors can control where the proton beam is delivering the energy.

Average Proton Therapy Cost in Indian Cities

Proton therapy isn’t readily available, even though new proton therapy centers are being built in India and in other countries. Proton therapy in India is getting popular for treating various tumors, including head, neck, and pediatric cancers. This cutting-edge therapy can be administered in combination with surgery and chemotherapy, depending on the type and extent of the cancer.

Proton therapy cost in India is between 35,000 and 65,000 USD. Teenagers and young adults can use proton treatment to decrease their chance of developing a second cancer.

Proton therapy costs can vary in Indian cities based on a number of variables, including the type of therapy, the method employed, the hospital and location of choice, the doctor’s qualifications, and more. The cost of proton therapy in India is one-third of that of US hospitals. India is the choice of thousands of individuals globally as their destination for medical care due to its affordable costs and expert health professionals.

What are the different diseases that can be Treated using Proton Therapy?

With the emergence of proton cancer therapy, research shows several malignant tumors can be treated using this therapy. Proton therapy is beneficial for tumors that have not spread and are in the vicinity of vital organs, such as cancers near the brain and spinal cord. It is also used in pediatric cancer as it lessens the risk of harming healthy, developing tissue. It can also be used to treat eye cancers such as orbital rhabdomyosarcoma and retinoblastoma.

Proton therapy is also beneficial for the following types of cancer:

Pelvic and spinal sarcomas are types of cancer that occur in the soft tissue and the bone.

Non-cancerous brain tumors

• Prostate Cancer: It is a cancer occurring in the prostate and one of the most common cancers in males. Prostate cancer, when detected early, i.e., confined to the prostate, has the best prognosis.
• Symptoms: The early stage may not show any symptoms, but some symptoms of the advanced stage are trouble urinating, decreased force in the stream of urine, blood in the urine and semen, bone pain, and losing weight without trying.
• Breast Cancer: Breast cancer occurs in the cells of the breasts. It is a commonly heard cancer in women. Some of the most common signs and symptoms are breast lumps or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue and morphological changes in the breast
• Various treatment modalities are available for breast cancer, and proton therapy is the best among them.
• Lung Cancer: Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. People who smoke have the greatest risk of lung cancer, though lung cancer can also occur in people without smoking.
• No symptoms are seen in the early stages, but advanced-stage lung cancer can have the following signs and symptoms: a new cough that doesn't go away, coughing up blood, even a small amount, shortness of breath, chest pain, etc. 
• Liver Cancer: Liver cancer is cancer that begins in the cells of your liver. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a type of liver cancer. Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infection increases the chances of liver cancer. Some symptoms include: Losing weight without trying, loss of appetite, upper abdominal pain, jaundice, jaundice, Nausea and vomitingAccording to some studies, proton therapy for liver cancer can lead to high tumor eradication rates and lower side effects.

Some other types of cancer that can be treated with proton radiation therapy include:

• Stromal sarcoma
• Fibroids
• Uveal melanoma
• Iris melanoma
• Choroidal haemangiomas
• Head and neck tumors

There is limited availability of proton cancer care centers across the country. Currently, only the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre offers proton therapy and is the first proton cancer center in Southeast Asia. According to reports, Tata Memorial Centre’s (TMC) ACTREC Kharghar Center is going to start this facility in the next few months.

Apollo Proton Cancer Center

Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) is the first and exclusive proton therapy center in South Asia and the Middle East, and it is, to its credit, the first cancer hospital accredited by JCI.

APCC has a fully integrated treatment suite offering avant-garde treatment in surgical, radiation,radiation and medical procedures. This center has continued the legacy of Apollo Hospital, bringing the best of expertise and excellence and bringing together a powerful team of clinicians of prestigious reputation globally in the field of cancer care.

At the core of APCC’s approach to cancer treatment are dynamic clinicians backed by a robust multi-disciplinary platform who are focused on providing the best possible outcomes for their patients with the best possible care.

The growing cases of cancer worldwide tell a menacing tale. To overcome this exponentially growing threat, Apollo Hospitals has introduced Proton Beam Therapy with focused cancer management teams that will provide excellent care like never before.

The Best Doctor for Proton Therapy in India

Dr. Rakesh Jalali

• Designation: Medical Director & Lead, Neuro Oncology
• Experience: 30+ years

Dr. Rakesh Jalali is an oncologist who is well known globally and is a key opinion leader, particularly famous for high-precision radiotherapy techniques. He has devoted more than three decades to this field and has done groundbreaking research in the field of cancer treatment, improving the quality of life of cancer patients. Dr. Jalali developed the Neuro Oncology Group at TMH, which is acclaimed as the finest such unit in India and recognized throughout the world. He was instrumental in establishing the Indian Society of Neuro-Oncology (ISNO) in 2008, served as its founding general secretary, then its president, and now holds the position of senior advisory council. He is an avid speaker and widely recognized for his teachings and providing expert guidance at various conferences, meetings,meetings and societies.

Famed for his commitment to charity and promoting affordable cancer care for patient populations in the developing world, He set up the ‘Brain Tumor Foundation of India’, an internationally recognized charity organization devoted to the welfare of patients with brain tumors and their families.
Professional Education:

• MBBS: Government Medical College, Jammu, 1990.
• M.D. in Radiation and Oncology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, 1994; Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) in Senior Research, Academic Unit of the Royal Marsden NHS Trust, London, UK, March 1998–September 1999,

 Awards and Accolades

• Awarded the Best Oncologist Award by Medscape in 2014.
• Received the Top Radiation Oncologist Award for 3 consecutive years from 2014 onwards.

Professional Membership

• Tata Memorial Hospital IRB (Hospital Ethics Committee)
• American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) Member
• Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (AROI) Life Member
• European Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO) Member
• Indian College of Radiation Oncology (ICRO) Life Member
• Indian Society for Hyperthermia and Oncology (ISHO) Member
• Society for Cancer Research and Communication (SCRAC) Member
• Society of Neuro-Oncology (USA) Member
• Tata Memorial Hospital IRB (Scientific Review Committee) Member 2008–2010
• Tata Memorial Hospital Data Monitoring and Safety Committee 2003–2005

Dr. Srinivas Chilkuri

Senior Consultant, Radiation Oncology (Pediatrics,Urology and Thoracic)

• Experience: 20+ years

Dr. Srinivas is a famed radiation oncologist and key opinion leader, especially in high-precision radiation therapy, including particle beam therapy. He has, to his credit, started South Asia and India’s first clinical program for particle beam therapy for pediatric cancers,thoracic cancers, prostate cancers, and sarcomas. He received his training from some of the finest institutions in India. He is awarded fellowships by the American Society of Oncology and the European Society of Medical Oncology. Dr. Chilkuri has been the clinical director of the Advanced Radiotherapy School, which has trained several oncologists and medical physicists in high-precision radiation therapy. He has numerous international scientific publications in his name, including in high-impact journals.

Professional Education

• M.B.B.S., Army Force Medical College, Pune
• MD, Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, in 2004.
• PDCR

Professional Work

• 2008–2018: Senior Consultant, Yashoda Cancer Institute
• 2013-2018: Lead Faculty, Varian Advanced Radiotherapy School
• 2017-Present: Consultant Medical Affairs, Varian Medical Systems
• 2013: Visiting Professor, Vanderbilt University Medical Centre
• Senior Resident, Tata Memorial Centre 

Professional Membership:

• The American Society of Oncology (ASCO)
• The American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)
• European Society of Medication Oncology (ESMO)
• Pediatric Radiation Oncology Society
• Society of Neuro-Oncology
• The Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (AROI)
• Indian Society of Neuro-Oncology (ISNO)
•  Area of Expertise
• Pediatric Cancers
• Thoracic Cancers
• Lymphomas
• Genitourinary Cancers
• Bone and soft tissue

Conclusion 

Proton therapy has emerged as a leading cancer treatment option, but it has its challenges, like cost and easy availability, that need to be addressed. Every cancer and every patient is different; it depends on the stage of cancer, age and other factors that contribute to the treatment outcome.