International Patient’s Guide to Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor Surgery

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International Patient’s Guide to Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor Surgery

Ovarian germ cell tumor surgery

Most patients diagnosed with ovarian germ cells tumors are treated by the surgery of ovarian germ cell tumor (OGCT). These are tumors that occur in the cells of the ovary which ordinarily comprise the eggs. Surgery is diagnostic and therapeutic; in this case surgery will help diagnose the type and stage of a tumor and eliminate it.

Aim of the Surgery 

  • Completely removed tumor.
  • Try to save fertility (due to OGCTs that tend to impact younger women significantly).
  • Stage of the disease (determine its extent).

Types of Surgery

Specific surgery is mainly based on the age, wish of having fertility, size of the tumor, and stage:

USO Unilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy

  • Surgery to have one of the ovaries and the fallopian tube removed.
  • Favored in early-stage disease of young women.
  • Opposite ovary and uterus are spared to give later fertility.

Fertility-Sparing Surgery including Staging

USO inclusive staging procedures:

  • Omentectomy (exclusions of fatty apron in inner belly)
  • Peritoneal biopsies (taking tissue of the belly);
  • Sampling of lymph node (as indicated)

Total Abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

  • Procurement of the uterus and the removal of both the ovaries and the fallopian tubes.
  • Generally used when a woman has reached the end of childbearing or it has reached an advanced/bilateral stage tumor.

Surgery to Debulk (A complicated disease)

  • Excision of as large volume of tumor mass as possible.
  • May entail removal of affected tissue of abdomen, peritoneum or the lymph nodes.

Post-Surgery Treatments

  • The recommendation of chemotherapy is usually recommended, in the event that the tumor is either malignant or advanced.
  • Standard treatment: BEP (Bleomycin, Etoposide, Cisplatin).
  • After surgery, surveillance can suffice in case of early and benign tumor.

Best hospitals for ovarian germ cell tumor treatment

Factors Affecting Ovarian germ cell tumor surgery cost in India

The determinants of the cost of surgery of ovarian germ cell tumor (OGCT) in India, which involves a surgery-specific issue within the non-surgery orientation to cost determinants of cancer treatment in India:

Cancer type and phase/ Complications of Operation

  • Very frequently procedures such as unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (USO) or other more staging surgeries are necessary in OGCTs.
  • The specialty surgeries or complicated surgeries (debulking, bilateral removal, etc.) require greater expertise and resources and therefore are more costly. 

Hospital Type & Location

  • In metros cities, the rate to be paid in the private hospitals is much higher as compared to government/public hospitals. 

Experience, Reputation of Surgeon

  • Experienced surgeons who are well known and of high expertise usually charge higher. 
  • High training costs explain why some of the private surgeons have high fees- a consideration of impact of educational expenses on fees. 

Diagnostic Expenses, Preoperative Expenses

  • Before surgery, diagnostic tests such as biopsy, CT/MRI/PET scans, lab panels and consultation may be up to 1 lakh or more, depending on the complexity. 
  • There may be extra cost-shifting tests in OGCT specific staging which move the costs even higher.

Inpatient and Follow -up

  • Stay and type of bed (general, semi-private, deluxe) have a huge impact upon the overall cost.
  • Supportive services including nursing, ICU, rehabilitation, and pain care are another increase in costs. 

Support Care & Rehabilitation

  • The OGCT patients are likely to require fertility-preserving follow-ups, imaging, and potentially counselling or physio- all associated with incremental cost.

Top oncologists for ovarian germ cell tumors

Advanced ovarian germ cell tumor surgery in India

Ovarian germ cell tumor (OGCT) surgery is more extensive when advanced (i.e., after spreading outside the ovary or it is bulky/complex). This is to get rid of as much cancer as possible, although in young patients this should, where possible, leave fertility intact.

Advanced Surgery of Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor:

Cytoreductive / Debulking surgery

  • The keystone to OGCT high-tech.
  • Objective: Cytoreductive surgery to achieve there are no visible tumor deposits possible (optimal cytoreduction).

May involve:

  • Unilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy (removal of one of your ovaries and tubes) or even Bilateral (both of your ovaries and/or tubes).
  • TAH in case of the widespread disease, where fertility can no longer be preserved
  • Omentectomy (surgical excision of the omentum or fatty tissue in which tumors may spread)
  • Removal of afflicted lymph nodes (lymphadenectomy).
  • Peritoneal stripping/ biopsies when there is tumour extension on the abdominal surfaces
  • Removal of any malignant deposits of bowel, diaphragm or liver when affected

Fertility Sparing Procedure, (where feasible)

  • In case one ovary remains healthy then the surgeons only take the diseased ovary + fallopian tube without disturbing the uterus and the healthy opposite ovary.
  • Chemotherapy is very effective even in the advanced cases hence fertility-sparing surgery may also be used.

Interval Debulking Surgery

  • In other cases, patients need adenocarcinoma before being subjected to a neoadjuvant chemotherapy procedure, especially where the tumor has widespread to become too big to remove safely at the time of diagnosis.
  • After the tumor is shrunk (interval debulking), surgery is conducted.

Surgical treatment plus Chemotherapy

  • Advanced OGCTs very often require chemotherapy in addition to surgery.
  • Comparative treatment, standard: BEP (Bleomycin, Etoposide, Cisplatin).
  • Combination with surgery + chemo results in a survival rate of >80-90 even though the disease is advanced.

Factors Affecting Affordable ovarian germ cell tumor treatment in India

These are the influences to the affordability of ovarian germ cell tumor (OGCT) treatment in India. The treatment is generally by surgery + chemotherapy + follow up, and cost of treatment varies with a combination of medical, institutional and financial factors.

Factors Affecting the Affordance of Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor Treatment in India:

Tumor Stage/Type of Surgery

  • Early stage OGCT does not necessarily need bilateral salpingo oophorectomy (removal of both ovary + tubes), a more costly procedure but only unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of one ovary + a tube).
  • Jurisdiction may require radical surgery (TAH-BSO, omentectomy, lymphadenectomy) and is far more expensive in an advanced stage.
  • Long-term costs can be minimized through fertility-sparing surgery that saves on a possible IVF in the future.

Hospital Choice

  • Bed in private hospitals (Apollo, Medanta, Fortis, Manipal, Max): more expensive, can get access quicker, high-end infrastructure.
  • The private hospitals in Metro cities are costlier than the tier-2 cities.

Surgeon’s Expertise

  • Gynecologic oncologists or surgical oncologists who are experienced with a good level of experience may end up charging quite expensive professional fees.
  • Nevertheless, quality surgery will cut down on repeat surgeries and save money in the long-run.

Chemotherapy Requirement

  • BEP (Bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin).
  • These drugs have many generic variations that are readily available throughout India, thus they cost less than it would cost in the west.
  • Nevertheless, long course of chemotherapy, supportive medication (anti-nausea, growth factors) and hospitalizations are cost-adding factors.

Diagnostic / Staging Costs

  • Investigations (CT/MRI/ PET scans tumor markers such as AFP, hCG, LDH biopsy) before treatment might be expensive.
  • It is more affordable when patients can afford discounted imaging at the government centres.

Hospital Stay and after-care

  • Shared room or single room: this is an option that modifies affordability.
  • In advanced cases, the need of ICU can add a lot to expenditure.
  • Fertility counselling and rehabilitation may contribute to cost-increase.

Follow-Up & Monitoring

  • Tumor marker follow-up and imaging should be done over the long term.
  • Follow-up costs can be minimized in government labs and in state hospitals.

Ovarian germ cell tumor surgery in India by GetWellGo

End to End patient support

  • Your case is managed by a dedicated relationship manager who is coordinating all aspects your situation- choice of hospitals and doctors, treatment plan, cost estimates, appointment, and logistics support.
  • They help you to arrange appointments, medical visas, local SIM cards, accommodation, language, and currency exchange.
  • The service offers consultation with acknowledged Indian specialists over the Internet and has a clear affordable pricing guarantee.

Providers/Hospitals/Experts

  • The GetWellGo operates in partnership with the leading NABH-certified and credible private hospitals in India- Medanta, Fortis, Max Super Speciality, Artemis, and Manipal, which deliver care of international standard.
  • They specifically target the related treatments of ovarian cancer type which would also comprise oncology in a broader extent classification and thus by extension including ovarian germ cell tumors.

Treatment Planning & Estimation of Costs

  • Under the systems, in which medical records can be given, they will advise you with comparative cost estimates as well as treatment plans of various hospitals- facilitating second opinions as well as comparisons in prices.
  • There is no fee that is applied to either a service fee or a convenience fee on your part, GetWellGo provides its facilitation to the patients at no cost.
  • They place an emphasis on providing the most competitive pricing, which may be at a discount as compared to the direct hospital quotes.

Why Choose GetWellGo for Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor Surgery?

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 Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor Surgery.
  • Expert gynae oncologist 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

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