Hypopharyngeal Cancer: A Guide for International Patients

Hypopharyngeal cancer treatment in India

Hypopharyngeal cancer is a head and neck cancer that is rare and aggressive in nature and occurs in the lower section of the throat, adjacent to the voice box (larynx) and is known as the hypopharynx. The approach to treatment relies on the cancer stage, the patient overall health, and his/her functional ability (speech, swallowing, breathing).

Below is a summary of treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer:

Surgery

• Primary tumor resection: Surgeons can resect part of the hypopharynx or the whole thing based on tumor size and tumor location.
• Neck dissection: The spread of hypopharyngeal cancer to lymph nodes is frequent, so the cervical lymph nodes are most likely to be removed.
• Partial or complete laryngopharyngectomy: In severe cases, a portion of all of the larynx and pharynx can be excised.
• Reconstructive surgery: Tissue grafts or flaps are applied to recover the ability to swallow and speak.
• Tracheostomy is temporary or permanent.

Radiation Therapy

• External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is frequently employed, either by itself in the first few stages or with chemotherapy in the advanced cases.
• May be postoperative or may be applied as adjuvant therapy to decrease recurrence.
• There are situations where radiation can cure small tumors.

Chemotherapy

• Concurrent chemoradiation: Radiation is administered together with chemotherapy (usually cisplatin-based) in case of advanced cancers in which the organ can be preserved.
• Induction chemotherapy: This is occasionally administered before surgery or radiations in order to reduce the size of the tumors.
• Palliative chemotherapy: Applied when the disease is metastatic or recurrent to alleviate the symptoms and extend life.

Immunotherapy & Targeted Therapy

• Cetuximab (EGFR-inhibitor): Can be used together with radiation or chemotherapy in some situations.
• Checkpoint inhibitors (immunotherapy) including nivolumab or pembrolizumab are applied in recurrent/metastatic hypopharyngeal, non-responsive to conventional therapy.

Rehabilitation & Supportive Care

• Post treatment speech and swallowing therapy to restore functions.
• Nourishment (feeding tube can be needed in the short run).
• Pain management and palliative care in advanced stages.
• Psychological assistance on account of voice, swallowing and quality of life affectation.

Best hospitals for hypopharyngeal cancer in India

• Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
• Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon
• Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
• Max Hospital, Saket

Factors Affecting Hypopharyngeal cancer surgery cost in India

This is a sophisticated summary of the major aspects that determine the cost of hypopharyngeal cancer surgery in India on the basis of the current statistics:

Issues that affect the cost of surgery:

Stage and Complexity of Cancer

• Staged hypopharyngeal cancer frequently necessitates further surgery (e. g., laryngopharyngectomy) or reconstruction, and adjuvant therapy - which is highly expensive. 

Type of Treatment & Technology

• Combinations (surgery + radiation + chemotherapy) are more expensive than surgery. High-tech radiation methods such as IMRT/IGRT are also costly because of equipment and planning requirements. 

Hospital Tier & Geographic Location

• Care in a metro-level private hospital (e.g., Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Gurugram) is expensive because of infrastructure, technology, and staffing- compared to the government or tertiary center. 

Surgeon Expertise & Specialist Fees

• Oncologic surgeons are very senior and are likely to demand high rates affecting the overall cost. 

Hospital Stay & ICU Requirements

• The bill is significantly inflated with longer hospitalization and ICU care or post-op complications. Other overheads, such as room fees, nursing care, and others, will be provided. 

Diagnostics, Reconstructive Surgery & Rehabilitation

Exclusion of costs does not limit to surgery but includes:

• Pre-operative diagnostics (e.g., CT/MRI, biopsy)
• Post-op reconstructive surgery
• Speech/swallowing therapy
• Nutritional support
• Each of them contributes to the end price. 

Choice Between Public vs. Private Healthcare

• The public institutions provide subsidized care in the form of cross-subsidies and a nominal cost group, thus making treatment cheaper to low-income patients. 
• Conversely, private hospitals, though they have prompt appointments and modern-day treatments, are usually comparatively expensive.

Top oncologists for hypopharyngeal cancer in India

• Dr. Biswajyoti Hazarika
• Dr. Priyanka Raina
• Dr. Deepak Sarin
• Dr. Vinod raina
• Dr. Anil Kumar Anand
• Dr. Harit Chaturvedi

Factors Affecting Affordable hypopharyngeal cancer treatment in India

The following is a polished summary of the primary contributors to the affordability of hypopharyngeal cancer care in India and is backed up by recent expert opinion and examples:

Awareness, Prevention & Early Detection

• Poor coverage of screening: Fewer than 5 percent of the population is covered by formal cancer screening programs. The development of the disease at an early stage drastically reduces the cost and the complexity of treatment. 
• Low social awareness, especially on infrequent cancer, such as hypopharyngeal cancers, postpones the diagnosis and in most cases results in costly and advanced treatments. 

Treatment Infrastructure & Technology

• Expensive high-tech treatments such as IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy) may be 3 to 9 times more expensive than traditional cobalt-based treatment. Planning and personnel also contribute extra cost. 
• Custom charges and servicing of the equipment: Custom charges up to 36 percent on medical equipment can add up to huge expenses. The problem of maintenance in state hospitals also restricts access to low-cost advanced treatment.

Medicine Pricing and Access

• High margins on drugs (often 40–90%) increase financial barriers. These, and tax on imports can be reduced to enhance affordability.

Hypopharyngeal cancer treatment in India with GetWellGo

GetWellGo is a medical tourism management company with headquarters in Gurgaon, which links patients with the best hospitals, experts, and treatment packages in India, particularly, international patients. 

Their Services Include:

• Appropriate hospital and physician referrals such as specialists (such as ENT and oncology). 
• Medical tests and calculations on the basis of your reports. 
• Travel, visa, accommodation, translation and appointment bookings. 
• Availability of hospitals that provide a range of prices of economical to premium with a short wait time (e.g. less than a week). 

They position themselves as your one-stop concierge for a smooth treatment journey abroad.

Why Choose GetWellGo for Hypopharyngeal Cancer Treatment?

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

• Complete transparency
• Fair costs.
• 24 hour availability.
• Medical E-visas
• Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
• Assistance in selecting India's top hospitals for Hypopharyngeal cancer treatment.
• Expert oncologists with a strong track record of success
• Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
• Language Support
• Travel and Accommodation Services
• Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
• Local SIM Cards
• Currency Exchange
• Arranging Patient’s local food