Selective Internal Radiation Therapy in India for Global Patients

Protect healthy tissue with an advanced Selective Internal Radiation Therapy in India managed smoothly by our team, from rapid specialist booking to recovery.

Selective Internal Radiation Therapy in India for Global Patients

Selective Internal Radiation Therapy in India

Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) and Yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization is a unique and advanced form of minimally invasive treatment for liver tumors. This treatment injects small radioactive beads into the blood vessels that supply the tumor and allows the treatment to be delivered to the tumor at high doses while protecting normal liver tissue. It is frequently suggested for the treatment of patients with liver metastases and/or unresectable primary liver cancer who are not candidates for surgery.

SIRT treatment in India

The Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) in India also called as Yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization is an advanced and minimally invasive therapy that treats liver metastases and primary liver cancer. SIRT is a procedure for treating certain cancers.

SIRT is mainly used to:

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
  • Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
  • The liver metastases are the most frequent occurrence of colorectal cancer.
  • Liver metastases from a neuroendocrine tumour.
  • Liver metastasis in patients with breast cancer.
  • Other metastatic tumors in the liver those are not resectable.

What is done during the Procedure?

The treatment usually involves the following steps:

  • First consultation and assessment.
  • Imaging tests such as a CT scan, MRI and PET-CT and blood tests.
  • Angiography that maps liver blood vessels.
  • Technetium-99m MAA was used for a simulation study to evaluate lung shunting and to prevent non-target radiation.
  • Radiation dosimetry, treatment planning based on individual.
  • Insertion of a catheter into a wrist or groin artery.
  • Injection of radioactive microspheres directly into the liver tumour.
  • Observation for several hours prior to discharge.

The process typically takes 60-90 minutes and may be done in the same evening or with a single overnight stay.

Factors Affecting Selective internal radiation therapy cost India

The prices of Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) in India can differ based on a variety of medical and hospital related factors. Because SIRT is a very specialized procedure that uses special imaging, radioactive microspheres, and a team of doctors, the total cost for each patient varies.

Type and Stage of Liver Cancer

  • The nature of the tumor, cholangiocarcinoma, or metastasis from colon or breast cancer as well as tumor size, number and location will significantly affect treatment options and cost.

The type of radioactive microspheres used

  • There are several different Yttrium-90 (Y-90) microsphere systems and this may impact the total cost of treatment.

Pre-Treatment Diagnostic Tests

Prior to SIRT, patients have been fully evaluated, including:

  • CT scan or MRI
  • PET-CT (if required)
  • Liver function tests
  • Blood investigations
  • Angiography and Technetium-99m MAA mapping study

The more investigations and the more complex they are the higher the total cost.

Number of Treatment Sessions

  • Depending on the patient, treatment may be needed for one lobe of the liver or two lopes may need treatment making the total cost more expensive.

Hospital Infrastructure

  • Treatment costs at advanced cancer hospitals may be higher as they have modern angiography, nuclear medicine facilities and trained multi-disciplinary teams.

Expertise of the Medical Team

  • The costs of the overall treatment could be affected by the experience of interventional radiologists, medical oncologists, nuclear medicine specialists and hepatobiliary surgeons in the planning and delivery of SIRT.

Hospital Stay

  • SIRT is typically done at a day-care or overnight facility but if a patient needs to be monitored or has a medical condition that needs management there may be further hospitalisation fees.

Medications and supportive care

The cost may include:

  • Pre-procedure medications
  • Pain management
  • Anti-nausea medications
  • Follow-up prescriptions
  • Therapies to help during the healing process

Use follow-up imaging and monitoring

  • This is because imaging, blood tests and follow up consultations are crucial to gauge the effectiveness of the treatment and to monitor liver function after the treatment which adds to the overall cost.

International Patient Services

For foreign patients, other services that might be provided are:

  • Medical visa assistance
  • Airport transfers
  • Accommodation arrangements
  • Language interpretation
  • International patient coordinators who are dedicated to patient care.
  • Follow-up at home using telephone video call or text messaging.

Best hospitals for SIRT in India

Advanced liver cancer treatment India

Advanced liver cancer treatment in India is a mix of the latest technology and the expertise of multi-disciplinary cancer experts enabling personalized treatment for patients with primary liver cancers and liver metastases. 

Advanced Liver Cancer Treatment Options in India:

Targeted Therapy

  • Specific drugs fight cancer by blocking pathways that encourage the growth of tumors and at the same time cause less damage to normal healthy tissues. These treatments are used for metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Immunotherapy

  • Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses the body's immune system to fight cancer cells. It can be used as standalone treatment or alongside targeted therapy in a few patients with advanced liver cancer.

Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT)

  • Also known as Yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization SIRT delivers radioactive microspheres directly into the arteries supplying liver tumors providing highly targeted radiation while preserving healthy liver tissue.

Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE)

  • TACE consists of the injection of chemotherapy directly into the blood supply of the liver tumour and then blocking the blood supply line to the tumour to starve it and inhibit its growth.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) and Microwave Ablation (MWA)

  • In these minimally invasive procedures, the heat from radiofrequency (RF) or microwave energy is used to treat small liver tumors and they can be used in carefully selected patients.

Liver Resection Surgery

  • If possible, it is ideal for patients with localized liver cancer and good liver function to receive surgery to remove the tumor so that the disease can be controlled over time.

Liver Transplantation

  • In a small number of patients with early stage liver cancer and underlying liver disease liver transplantation may cure the patient by removing the cancer and the liver.

External Beam Radiation Therapy

  • More sophisticated therapy options like stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) or image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) provide precisely targeted radiation doses to liver tumours while restricting healthy tissues in the surrounding area to low radiation doses.

Systemic Chemotherapy

  • Chemotherapy is not a frequent treatment for primary liver cancer but it could be considered for some liver cancers or liver metastasis.

Conclusion

For international patients, SIRT is an advanced and minimally invasive treatment for primary or metastatic liver cancer in India. SIRT is a great option for individuals who are not surgical candidates due to its ability to deliver targeted radiation exclusively to liver tumors and spare healthy liver tissue using Yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioactive microspheres. India's leading cancer hospitals combine cutting-edge technology, experienced interventional radiologists and oncologists and a multidisciplinary approach to provide personalized treatment with excellent clinical outcomes. Along with the considerably reduced treatment costs, internationally accredited hospitals, short waiting periods and extensive international patient support such as medical visa facilities, travel arrangements, accommodation assistance, interpreters and post-care, India turns into an attractive destination for SIRT.

Selective Internal Radiation Therapy in India​​ with GetWellGo

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 Selective Internal Radiation Therapy.
  • Expert surgeons 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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