11 Feb, 2026
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11 Feb, 2026
This article is medically reviewed by Dr. S. Bhattacharjee, Senior Consultant - Radiation Oncology, HCG Cancer Hospital, Bangalore.
“How much does my cancer treatment cost, doctor?”
One of the most common questions that our patients ask their doctors, as a sense of confusion, distress, and fear passes through their faces.
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, the first thing they think about is treatment and survival. But as the journey goes on, treatment cost becomes an important part of planning and recovery. As hospitals, treatments, locations, and individual patients differ, the treatment costs can also vary and end up becoming a burden for some patients and their families.
Cancer treatment costs in India always vary depending on the type of cancer, the stage at which it was diagnosed, the type of treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy), and other factors like travel, lodging, and lost income.
In this article, we look at the main factors that affect the cost of cancer treatment in India.
To understand how the type and stage of cancer affect costs, how different treatment methods can raise or lower costs, how the type, location, and infrastructure of the hospital affect the bill, how a patient's specific health and complications can raise costs, what direct and indirect costs are, how insurance and financial aid can help, and finally, how to plan your expenses, please read this article till the end.
Costs mentioned for different treatments are approximate values only. For accurate pricing, patients and their families should contact the hospital directly.
The cancer treatment cost in India depends on multiple factors and can range from ₹2,50,000 to ₹25,00,000.
For instance:
In private hospitals, the cost of surgery alone can be anywhere from ₹1,00,000 to ₹10,00,000 (or more), depending on the target site.
The cost of chemotherapy per cycle could start at ₹3,000 and go up to ₹80,000, depending on various factors.
The full course of radiation therapy can cost anywhere from about ₹1,50,000 to several lakhs, depending on the method used.
There are differences between private and public hospitals. Private metro hospitals with better infrastructure usually charge more due to the availability of modern hospital facilities, more advanced machines, and globally trained and experienced specialists.
Public or government hospitals, on the other hand, may be cheaper but may also have longer waiting periods, fewer amenities, and fewer treatment choices.
When figuring out how much cancer treatment costs in India on average, you need to think about both direct medical costs (diagnostic tests, surgery, systemic therapies, radiation treatments, diagnostics, hospital stay, drugs, follow-up visits, rehabilitation, supportive care, etc.) and indirect non-medical costs (travel, lodging if you're away from home, and lost wages for the patient and caregivers).
So the best answer to the question, "What is the cost of cancer treatment in India?" is that in India, the answer depends on multiple factors, and learning about them can help you plan your finances better and reduce unnecessary expenses.
The type of cancer (solid tumor vs. hematologic, tumor site, etc.) and the stage at which it is diagnosed are two of the most important factors that affect the cancer treatment cost in India.
Different types of cancer need different treatments. For instance, blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma often need more rounds of chemotherapy, a possible bone marrow transplant, and close monitoring for a long time. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy may be needed for solid tumors.
Cancer stage is another important cost-deciding factor. The later the diagnosis, the more intense the treatment is likely to be. This could mean more cycles of chemotherapy, higher doses, more complicated surgery, a larger tumor burden, complications, and a longer hospital stay.
Treatments for early-stage cancers (like stage 1) may be easier and less intensive, while treatments for late-stage cancers (like stage 3 or 4) often need more resources, more expensive drugs (like targeted or immunotherapy), longer recovery times, and more monitoring.
That's why the costs of treating stage 1 cancer in India and stage 4 cancer in India are very different, both in terms of how much treatment is needed and how much it costs overall. The cost usually goes up as the stage goes up.
In short, the type and stage of cancer together decide how complicated the care path is, how many interventions are needed, how long the hospital stay is, what drugs are used, and so on. This has a big effect on the cost of cancer treatment in India.
The type of treatment you get is another big factor in the cost of cancer treatment in India.
Surgery can be as simple as taking out a tumor or as complicated as organ-preserving or multivisceral surgery, which may use robots or be minimally invasive. It can also be reconstructive surgery.
The cost of cancer surgery in India can be anywhere from ₹1,00,000 to ₹ 10,00,000, depending on the complexity of the procedure. Additionally, the use of modern surgical equipment can lead to a higher cost.
The cost of chemotherapy in India can depend on factors like the type of chemo drug recommended, how many cycles you need, how aggressive the chemo regimen is, whether you need supportive drugs (like growth factors), whether you undergo inpatient or daycare chemo, and any complications that come up, like infections.
The average cost of one cycle of chemotherapy varies between ₹3,000 and ₹80,000, depending on the type of drug and other factors.
Cost is affected by the type of treatment (conventional external beam, IMRT, proton therapy, or brachytherapy), the number of sessions, the amount of time spent on the machine, the length of the hospital stay, and the imaging tests recommended.
The average cost of radiation therapy is between ₹1,50,000 and several lakhs, depending on the factors discussed above.
Immunotherapy, CAR T-cell therapy, targeted therapy, and bone marrow transplants are some of the newest and most advanced treatments.
These treatments are relatively more expensive due to their complexity and precision.
The average cost of immunotherapy in India can range between ₹80,000 and ₹5,00,000 per cycle/session, based on the type of immunotherapy. The average cost of CAR T-cell therapy varies between ₹25 lakh and ₹50 lakh per treatment. A stem cell transplant, on average, can cost anywhere between ₹15 lakh and ₹45 lakh, depending on the type of SCT, the type of condition treated, and other factors.
So, when you look at "chemotherapy cost in India," "targeted therapy cost," and "radiation therapy cost in India," you will see a lot of price variations. The more complicated or advanced the modality, the more it costs.
Another important factor that decides the cost of cancer treatment is which hospital you choose for your treatment.
Private, metro tertiary hospitals with modern facilities, well-equipped cancer centers, skilled doctors, and cutting-edge technology, like robotic surgery, CyberKnife, genomics, CAR T-cell therapy, etc., will cost more. Fees are usually lower at regional hospitals, smaller centers, or government hospitals. The cost goes up primarily due to treatment complexity, including the stage of disease, type of therapy required, duration of treatment, and need for specialized expertise.
Location of the hospital is also a cost-deciding factor. Treatments in tier-1 cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai) often cost more than treatments in tier-2 or tier-3 cities because of higher overhead, specialist availability, and infrastructure costs.
Costs go up if the hospital has advanced technologies, cancer centers, advanced diagnostics, ICU backups, and so on. In such cases, opting for comprehensive packages can help.
Simply put, the type of hospital, the region, and the infrastructure you use all have a significant impact on the cost of cancer treatment in India. When choosing a hospital, you have to weigh the cost against the convenience and access.
In addition to disease and hospital factors, patient health and personal circumstances influence cost.
If the patient has other health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, or kidney problems, more medical attention is required, as the risk of complications is high. This contributes to increased costs.
Complications, infections, repeat surgeries, and extra support care (like intensive physiotherapy, nutritional counseling, and rehabilitation) all add to the total cost of the hospital stay.
Supportive care is also an important part of cancer management. Cancer patients will often need rehabilitation after surgery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and nutritional counseling for swifter recovery. This also contributes to increased cancer treatment costs.
The overall health condition of the patient throughout their treatment journey (which may be out of their control) can impact their cancer treatment costs.
The cost of cancer treatment can be split into direct costs, indirect costs, and hidden costs:
These include surgery, drugs (chemo/immuno/targeted), radiation therapy, a hospital stay, ICU use, professional fees, monitoring tests, and supportive medicines.
These are often missed but are important: getting to the hospital, especially if you're referred from a smaller town to a bigger city; finding a place to stay for you and your caregiver, if you don't stay in the same city as the hospital; your and your caregiver's lost wages; lost productivity; the cost of supplements; physiotherapy/rehab outside of the hospital; and more.
If the response to the treatment is poor or if there are any complications, there may be a need for additional tests, interventions to manage those complications or side effects, more frequent follow-up visits, longer follow-up care, and home care services. All these factors contribute to hidden or unexpected costs.
While discussing your treatment plans, it's important to get both a medical and a non-medical estimate, as it helps you plan your treatment journey more effectively.
When there are high values at stake, it's important to know how to lower costs.
In India, full health insurance usually covers cancer treatment (hospitalization, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation), but you should check the details (pre-existing conditions, waiting period, sub-limits, room category, etc.). Some specialized policies cover cancer with a one-time payment.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) and other state-level programs provide free or low-cost cancer care to people who meet certain requirements. A narrative review highlighted the significant burden of catastrophic health expenditures for numerous cancer patients in India and emphasized the importance of these aids.
Opting for health insurance and government health schemes can help you reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
Here are some useful tips that can help you reduce your cancer treatment costs in India:
Planning and budgeting goes a long way in managing your cancer treatment expenses:
This kind of financial planning can help ease the stress that comes with the financial burden of cancer treatment in India.
To sum up, the cost of cancer treatment in India is affected by various factors, such as the type and stage of cancer, the type and location of the hospital, the patient's health and complications, the direct and indirect costs, and the financial mitigation measures. You can make choices that align with the best clinical outcome and your financial situation by staying informed and taking action.
You are not alone in your cancer journey. Comprehensive cancer hospitals offer support services, counseling, help with insurance, home care planning, and cost estimates to help you deal with the financial aspects of your cancer treatment. We would suggest that you talk to your oncologist and financial advisor right away, ask for a personalized estimate, look into insurance and government programs, and prepare for direct, indirect, and unexpected costs accordingly.
Dr. S. Bhattacharjee
Senior Consultant - Radiation Oncology MBBS, MD (Radiation Oncology)
Dr. S. Bhattacharjee is a senior radiation oncologist at HCG Cancer Centre, Bengaluru, with expertise in advanced radiotherapy techniques including IMRT, IGRT, CyberKnife, TomoTherapy, brachytherapy, and chemotherapy. With over two decades of experience, he has treated thousands of cancer patients across India and abroad. He discovered the immunomodifier Immuvac, approved by the USFDA. His work is widely published in international journals, and he actively contributes to research, education, and cancer awareness initiatives.
Appointment Link: Book an Appointment with Dr. S. Bhattacharjee.
