Radiation Therapy is a medical treatment where high-energy rays are directed at cancerous cells to destroy them. Radiation therapy may be used alone or along with surgery, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy.
It is often used for cancers of the head, neck, breast, lung, prostate, uterus, ovary, testis, stomach, colon, rectum, liver, pancreas, kidney, bone, thyroid gland, eye, brain, skin, and soft tissue.
India’s first radiotherapy unit was established in Mumbai in 1951 and since then many others have been set up around the country.
Today, about 200 units have been set up across the nation. Radiotherapy is provided free of cost in government hospitals and private clinics in India. In some states, like Kerala, patients pay only 10% of the total costs.
In Maharashtra state, a patient pays Rs. 1,000 as deposit and Rs. 500 per session. A patient who undergoes radiotherapy once a week for five weeks gets a total of Rs. 5,000 as compensation.
Two types of radiation therapy-
There are two types of radiotherapy – external beam and brachytherapy. External beam radiotherapy involves directing the beams of radiation directly onto the tumor site.
Brachytherapy involves placing radioactive material inside the body near the tumor. Both methods use similar equipment.
External Beam Radiotherapy
This method is used for treating tumors located close to critical organs like the eyes, heart, lungs, spinal cord, etc. The patient lies down on the table and the area to be irradiated is marked on his/her back.
Usually, four to six ports are made in the region to allow passage of the radiation beams. The radiation is administered using a machine called a linear accelerator. The linear accelerator directs the beams of radiation towards the tumor.
Brachytherapy
For certain types of cancer, doctors implant tiny radioactive seeds into the tumor. These seeds emit radioactivity continuously so that the cancer cells die slowly. This method is used for treating small tumors that cannot be removed surgically.
Why people prefer India for treatment-
1. India has the best cancer treatment facilities in the world.
India has some of the best hospitals and medical centers in the world. In fact, many of the top hospitals in the US have their origins in India.
Many of these hospitals were established over 100 years ago. Today, India continues to lead the way in providing quality healthcare services to its citizens.
2. It is not widely available in the United States.
In the United States, radiation therapy is only offered at select locations. There are currently no federal regulations requiring insurance companies to cover radiation therapy treatments. As a result, patients may need to pay out-of-pocket for their radiation therapy treatments.
3. Indian doctors have extensive experience treating cancer.
Indian doctors have treated thousands of cancer patients since ancient times. Their knowledge and expertise in radiation therapy has continued to improve over time.
4. It costs less than chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy is expensive – costing upwards of $10,000 per session. On the other hand, radiation therapy is much cheaper. Price of radiation therapy for a single dose can cost around $500-$1000.
5. Radiation therapy is a proven method of fighting cancer.
Radiation therapy has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. In addition, radiation therapy is often used to treat cancers that cannot be removed surgically, such as brain tumors.
6. Medical tourism is becoming popular among Americans.
Medical tourism is booming in the United States. Patients travel abroad to receive care they would otherwise not be able to access.
The rise in popularity of medical tourism is largely due to the high cost of healthcare in the United States. Additionally, many Americans find traveling overseas to be easier than dealing with the paperwork involved in receiving healthcare in the U.S.
7. Radiation therapy is noninvasive.
Unlike surgery, radiation therapy does not require open incisions or cutting of any body parts. Instead, it uses high doses of radiation to destroy diseased cells without damaging surrounding healthy cells.
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