When you're sitting with a cancer diagnosis, two things become urgent very quickly: starting treatment, and figuring out how to pay for it.
For patients in the US, UK, Canada, and much of Europe, those two things are in direct conflict. Treatment costs are high. Waiting lists are long. And the gap between what you need and what your system can offer - quickly, affordably - can feel impossible.
India is where a growing number of those patients are going. This is what they find when they get there.
Why Patients Come to India for Cancer Care
Cost. Chemotherapy that costs $30,000–$100,000 in the US costs $3,000–$15,000 in India. The same drugs, the same protocols - the price difference is structural, not a sign of inferior care.
No waiting. In the UK and Canada, the diagnostic and staging pathway alone can take 4–8 weeks before treatment even begins. In India, an oncology consultation can be scheduled within days. For fast-moving cancers, that gap is not just inconvenient - it's medically significant.
Volume and specialisation. India's major cancer centres treat enormous caseloads. Sub-specialists - doctors who focus on one cancer type, not oncology in general - are standard at leading hospitals. That depth of experience matters.
What's Available
The full range of modern oncology is available at NABH and JCI-accredited hospitals:
- Surgery - open, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted tumour resection
- Chemotherapy - all standard regimens plus most novel protocols
- Immunotherapy - checkpoint inhibitors including Keytruda, Opdivo, and atezolizumab
- Radiation - LINAC, CyberKnife, Gamma Knife, IMRT, IGRT, brachytherapy
- Bone Marrow Transplant - autologous and allogeneic, at dedicated BMT units
- PET-CT and nuclear medicine - for staging, planning, and response assessment
What It Costs
| Treatment | USA | UK (Private) | India |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemotherapy (full course) | $30,000–$100,000 | £15,000–£50,000 | $3,000–$15,000 |
| Radiation therapy (full course) | $25,000–$75,000 | £10,000–£30,000 | $2,500–$7,000 |
| Cancer surgery (major) | $40,000–$100,000 | £15,000–£40,000 | $4,000–$12,000 |
| Bone marrow transplant | $100,000–$300,000 | £50,000–£100,000 | $15,000–$35,000 |
| Immunotherapy (per cycle) | $10,000–$20,000 | £5,000–£15,000 | $1,500–$5,000 |
Figures are indicative. Share your reports with Sano for a personalised estimate - free, within 48 hours.
How to Choose the Right Hospital
Not all cancer centres are equal, even within India's accredited network. Four questions matter most:
Does the hospital have a multidisciplinary tumour board? Your case should be reviewed by a panel - surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, radiologist, pathologist - before a treatment plan is decided. This is non-negotiable at world-standard centres.
What's their volume for your specific cancer type? A hospital that does 500 colorectal surgeries a year is not the same as one that does 50. Ask the number directly.
Are pathology and imaging in-house? Outsourced diagnostics slow everything down. Integrated services are a mark of a capable centre.
What does follow-up look like after you go home? You won't be living around the corner. Understand exactly how remission monitoring and recurrence surveillance works for international patients before you commit.
Sano Healthcare and Tourism matches your specific cancer type and stage to the right hospital - not just the nearest available one.
What the Journey Looks Like
Before you travel - Share your pathology reports, imaging, biopsy results, and treatment history with Sano. You receive a specialist oncology review within 48 hours, at no cost, with a recommended approach and cost estimate.
Getting there - India's e-Medical Visa processes in as little as 72 hours. Sano handles your documentation and your companion's visa simultaneously. Full visa guide →
On arrival - A Sano coordinator meets you at the airport. Your first oncology appointment is arranged within 24–48 hours of landing.
During treatment - Stays range from 2–3 weeks for surgery or a defined radiation course, to longer for chemotherapy cycles. One Sano coordinator stays with your case throughout - no being passed between departments.
After you're home - Remote follow-up with your Indian oncologist, reports formatted for your home doctor, and international medicine courier if your ongoing treatment requires drugs sourced more affordably from India.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I continue a chemo regimen I started at home?
In most cases, yes. Bring your treatment summary - regimen name, drug doses, cycle number, any toxicity events. The team in India can continue the same protocol or adjust based on your current response.
Is immunotherapy available in India?
Yes. Keytruda, Opdivo, atezolizumab, and other checkpoint inhibitors are available at major centres - at substantially lower cost than in Western markets.
What if I want a second opinion before committing to surgery?
That's exactly what Sano's free report review is for. Many patients find it either confirms their planned treatment - giving them confidence - or surfaces an alternative they hadn't been offered.
Are my records confidential?
Yes. Reports are shared only with your treating team, via encrypted transmission.
Start Here
The earlier you begin, the more options remain available to you.
Request a free specialist review of your reports →
WhatsApp: +91 85300 54299 - 24/7, in your language.
Sano Healthcare and Tourism connects international patients with NABH-accredited oncology centres across India. Free second opinion. Transparent pricing. Zero waiting. Learn more →
