BRAIN TUMOR SURGERY COST IN INDIA

Cost of Brain Tumour Surgery in India starts at USD 6,000. However, it can go as high as USD 9,000. The cost of surgery differs based on the condition of the patient. The factors that determine the cost of Brain Tumour Surgery in India are:

1. The choice of hospital for the surgery.
2. Room, a patient opts for a stay after the surgery.
3. For a medical tourist, the choice of hotel for a stay after the discharge from the hospital.
4. Neurosurgeon.
5. Drugs, medicines and therapies.
6. Condition of the patient.
7. Tests and diagnosis.
8. Type of brain tumour surgery.

Even, after taking into account each and every factor that may increase the cost of treatment, the entire expenses of brain tumour surgery in India is one-third as compared to the costs of treatment in any other developed nation.

What is Brain Tumour Surgery?

Brain Tumour Surgery is a surgical procedure to remove the tumour and the cells surrounding the tumour to get rid of this fatal brain disorder.

Surgery is the only treatment for the brain tumour. It is better for a patient to undergo the surgical procedure in the early stages to get control of the condition and improve the overall health. 

The neurosurgeons decide on the type of treatment depending upon several factors. Some of the common aspects of determining the surgery are:

• The overall physical and mental health of the patient.
• Type of brain tumour.
• The treatment also depends on the size and location of the tumour.
• The Surgeons decide on the surgical procedure depending upon the area affected by a brain tumour. 
• Nature of the tumour.

Why Undergo Brain Tumour Surgery?

The brain is the most indispensable part of the human body. It provides the signals to the body to perform any and every activity. In case you are suffering from the brain tumour, surgery becomes must, to get rid of its chronic symptoms. 

Ignoring the brain tumour surgery for longer duration may lead to:

• Speech difficulties.
• Vision disorders.
• Seizures.
• Behavioural and personality changes.
• Loss of sensation.
• Severe headache.
• Difficulty in balancing the body.
• Vomiting and nausea etc.

However, it is possible to regain the routine after the surgery. Brain tumour surgery can also help you in:

• Eradicating the brain tumour.
• Slow down the growth of brain tumour.
• Improve the signs and symptoms.
• Also, to find a cure for the disease.

The Procedure of Brain Tumour Surgery:

Before beginning with the surgical procedure, the neurosurgeon suggests complete diagnosis on the body of the patient. For comprehensive monitoring of the condition of the patient, the surgeon may suggest the following tests: 

• MRI or CT Scan to get the detailed images of the brain.
• MRA or Angiogram; it helps with in-depth analysis of the brain, to detect all the nerve and blood vessels affected with the tumour.
• Biopsy, to know if the tumour is cancerous or not.
• Skull X-Ray.

After a complete examination, the doctor decides the type of Brain Tumour Surgery to be performed as per the condition of the patient. 

Surgical Process:

The surgeon begins the process by shaving the affected region. The next step is to give anaesthesia to the patient so that he does not feel any pain during the surgery. Depending on the condition of the patient, the neurosurgeon opts for one of the following procedures:

• Radiotherapy:

It is a standard method used to treat cancer cells. When it is not possible to remove the brain tumour, the doctors make use of radiation to remove the tumour cells. Radiotherapy may be the primary therapy for the patient, or the surgeons may use it after the surgery. Using radiotherapy after the surgery help to treat the tumour that the surgeon cannot remove and also to reduce the brain tumour development in future. 

The neurosurgeons may continue with the radiotherapy over the period of three to seven weeks. The duration of radiation varies depending on the condition of the patient.

• Craniotomy:

It is the most preferred choice of neurosurgeons against a brain tumour. The process begins with making an incision in the area of bone from the skull. With the help of the opening, the surgeons get access to the brain. Before the surgery, the patient has to undergo the scans to know the exact location of the tumour. While other surgeons opt for image-guided surgery, which makes all the images available on the screen.

Now, they remove the brain tumour and then puts back the flap of the skull to close the incision. It is possible to hold the closure into place with the help of metal brackets. It is possible to fix the structure with the help of stitches. You do not have to worry about the scars post-surgery, as it will not be visible and hide under your hair.

• Microsurgery:

In this type of brain tumour surgery, the doctors use a high power microscope to have a closer look at the nerves, brain tissues and the blood vessels. The process makes it possible to detect the healthy cells and defected cells and thus differentiate it more effectively from each other. 

So, the surgeon can easily remove the tumour cells and leave behind the brain tumour cells.

It is essential for the patient to remain in the hospital for 3 to 7 days. Here, the entire medical team provides personal attention and guidance to the patient for a speedy recovery.   

Complications of Brain Tumour Surgery:

The most common complications after the Brain Tumour Surgery are:

• Redness or swelling.
• Vomiting and headache.
• Infection.
• Fever.
• Fluid discharge from the incision.
• Another major problem after the brain tumour surgery is in swallowing or eating food.

To avoid complications, the doctors provide drugs and medications. Along with that, the doctor may suggest considerable changes in the diet. At times, the doctors have to introduce an additional tube for feeding the patient that is NJ tube or G-Tube.

Make sure that you follow all the instructions from the doctor so that you can recover quickly after the surgery. The rehabilitation period in the hospital may be a week, but a patient may require more than a year to get back to regular life; be it personal or professional.

Do not ignore the instructions of a doctor after the discharge, and follow all the do’s and don’ts at home too. Irresponsible behaviour may lead to severe complications and at times, the failure of the surgery also.

Who is not a suitable patient for brain tumour surgery?

• The person who has AIDS cannot undergo brain tumour surgery.
• Doctors sidestep surgery on a patient with the body mass index higher than 30.
• Neurosurgeons avoid performing surgery on pregnant women.
• If a person has a high addiction to smoking, he is not suitable for brain tumour surgery.

Recovery After Brain Tumour Surgery:

It is possible to recover after brain tumour surgery only if the patient makes suitable changes in his routine life. Some of the most significant changes can be:

• Avoid the use of cell phones. If you want to talk to someone urgently, consider using a landline. Also, try to keep the conversations short.
• Do not eat heavy and oily food that can be difficult to swallow and lead to choking of your food pipe. Keep your diet light and simple.
• Say no to smoking.
• Add physical exercises to your daily routine to manage your weight.  
• Keep your surroundings clean and maintain personal hygiene.

These are the simple tips but can avoid all the complications like infection or regeneration of tumour after the surgery etc.