Cancer Treatment Abroad: Complete Guide to Countries, Cost & Travel

Which Are the Best Countries To Get Cancer Treatment Abroad?

India, Turkey, and Mexico are some of the top countries for cancer treatment abroad, thanks to precision technology, expert oncologists, safe & reliable treatment plans, and a multidisciplinary approach to fighting cancer.

What Is the Cost of Cancer Treatment Abroad?

The cost of cancer treatment in countries like India and Turkey ranges from USD $7000 - $11,000^[1], compared to the US, where the cost can go well over $100,000^[2].

According to the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Trends Progress Report, medical services and oral prescriptions are the 2 main parts of overall cancer care, and patients bear a heavy financial strain based on this.

Costs vary depending on the type of cancer treatment. Here is a breakdown comparison chart to show some popular cancer treatments and their costs in different countries.

As seen above, India is one of the most economical destinations to get cancer treatment abroad, followed by Turkey, which too has renowned hospitals that provide accessible & reliable oncology care at a fraction of the cost, as compared to the US.

Overview of Cancer Treatment Abroad

Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. In 2022, there were 9.7^[11] million cancer-related deaths worldwide. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the most common procedures that people undergo on medical tourism trips include cancer treatment.^[12]

Global Perspective on Cancer Treatment Abroad

More and more international patients are traveling abroad to get cancer treatment, with reasons ranging from exorbitant costs to high waiting periods to a lack of proper healthcare infrastructure in some African countries.

In a recent article published by Business Standard, more than 600,000^[13] International patients traveled to India for advanced cancer care and other cardiac, orthopedic, or transplant-related treatments.

Patients from Pacific islands, African countries, Eurasian planes, and former Soviet Union (CIS), collectively representing around 21%^[14] of the world's population, are looking towards India as an ideal destination for cancer treatments.

As of a report from 2024^[15], here are the most common types of cancers affecting people based on their gender.

Read our article and learn all about advanced treatments like Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer in India and Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer in India.

Turkey is also emerging as a destination for international patients for cancer treatment. Evidence has indicated that there has been a huge rise in advanced cancer care in terms of early detection, microscopic confirmation of negative margins, and widespread use of new drugs.

This has reduced local recurrence of deadly cancers such as breast cancer by at least 50%^[16], and breast-conserving surgery (BCS) has shown success of over 75% in Turkey.

Types of Cancer Treatment Abroad

The field of oncology is a multi-disciplinary one. Cancer patients are given treatment per their treatment plan, which can involve one or more therapies.

In a study, it was roughly seen that doctors recommend administering chemotherapy (87.0%), radiotherapy (28%), and surgery (21.0%). 4% of patients also get bone marrow transplantation to treat blood cancers.^[17]

General Surgery

General surgery to treat cancer is to remove the cancerous tumor from the body part affected surgically.
Usually, oncologists and surgeons perform open surgery, where they make a large incision or a cut and take out the cancerous tumor. In these cases, other affected organs are also removed if the cancer spreads to nearby areas.
Now, there are other minimally invasive techniques that are being used by doctors, like

• Laparoscopic surgery

This is the type of surgery where the surgeon uses a long, thin device called a Laparoscope to make small cuts and remove the cancerous part from the patient’s body. This surgery can be done manually or using robots.

• Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery

This is when robots are used to perform the surgery directly instead of a surgeon. In this case, usually, a doctor is at the console and directs the robotic arm to reach out and precisely perform the tumor removal surgery.

Top hospitals in India use the latest Da Vinci XI robots to deliver high-quality cancer surgery.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy refers to using drugs in the form of chemicals to weaken or destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy comprises a host of various drugs that are used in different combinations with proven efficacies over different forms and types of cancers

Read our complete guide on Chemotherapy Treatment Abroad to know all the details.

Radiation Therapy 

Radiation therapy uses intense beams of energy to kill the cancer cells. The radiation beams, largely X-rays or photon beams, are precise and noninvasive. This is a great alternative to open-invasive surgery and can help treat cancer in a few sittings.

IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) is largely used in treating different types of cancers. Here, the radiation beam is split into intent short beams, which target the cancer using sharp rays.

Another more effective type of radiation therapy called IGRT (Image Guided Radiation Therapy) is also being introduced in the treatment plans. Here, the tumor or cancerous cells are accurately targeted despite slight movement, thanks to cutting-edge image monitoring.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that fights cancer by boosting the immune system in many ways. From injecting lab-made substances similar to immune cells to modifying the body’s soldier T-cells, immunotherapy has a lot of potential in treating cancer even when other therapies fail.

Immunotherapy is delivered alongside other treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, many times. Read our guide to Immunotherapy for cancer in India right here.

Targetted Therapy

Targeted therapy targets proteins that control how cancer cells grow, multiply, and spread.

Precision oncology is based on this mode of treatment. Most types of targeted therapy help treat cancer by stopping specific proteins that help cancer grow. This differs from chemotherapy, which often kills all cells that grow and divide quickly.

Procedure: Get Cancer Treatment Abroad

With the help of our medical advisors, international patients can access affordable cancer treatment abroad with high success rates.

Touch-Point with Our Medical Advisors

Once the patient connects with our team, they are asked to share all initial medical reports with our advisors, who can guide them on the way forward.

Cancer treatments are multi-disciplinary and depend on a variety of factors, such as

• Stage of cancer
• Organ affected
• Ongoing cancer treatments
• Initial test results such as gene tests, blood tests etc.
• Other complications or medical issues

Our team will connect you with the best hospitals abroad after understanding your medical history.

Timeline for Cancer Treatment Abroad

The duration of cancer treatment varies depending on several factors, such as

• Type of cancer
• Stage of cancer
• How individuals respond to ongoing cancer treatment such as chemotherapy

Many times, when patients travel abroad for cancer treatment, they would already have received some level of chemotherapy, drugs & medication, or radiation therapy in their home country.

The oncologists handling their case in our partner hospital will ensure that all subsequent treatment is as per their already existing treatment plan, if not better!

Success Rate for Cancer Treatment Abroad

The success rate for cancer treatment abroad can range from 83%^[18] to 85%^[19]

According to studies, the best survival outcomes were for those treated with only surgery (95.6%) or in combination with either radiotherapy (90.6%) or with radiotherapy and chemotherapy (85.5%).^[20]

Best Hospitals for Cancer Treatment Abroad.

Medical Park

Flatofis Haliç, Defterdar, Otakçılar Caddesi No:78, 34050 Eyüp/İstanbul, Türkiye.Istanbul, Turkey

Medical Park is Turkey's largest hospital group, accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI).

Leading in organ transplants and boasting high success rates in bone marrow transplantation, Medical Park utilizes advanced techniques like Gamma-Knife and Tomotherapy in its oncological units to enhance treatment efficiency.

• JCI Accredited
• 57+ Departments

• 31+ Years of Excellence

Procedures Offered :

Bariatric, Orthopedic, Cosmetic, Gastric Sleeve, & More

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• Holistic cancer care hospital for medical oncology and pediatric oncology.
• Advanced treatment methodologies for oncology such as Tomotherapy, Gamma Knife Radio Surgery, Stem Cell transplantation.
• Precise diagnosis thanks to tests such as biopsies, sedimentation, blood smear (cell typing & cellular rates), and viral serology, amongst others.

BLK Max Healthcare

4.7 (16,401 Verified Reviews)

Pusa Rd, Radha Soami Satsang, Rajendra Place, New Delhi, Delhi, 110005New Delhi, India

Max Healthcare Group is a leading healthcare provider in India, serving both domestic and international patients.

With a network of 14 hospitals across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, they offer standardized and international-class healthcare services across 29 specialties.

BLK Max Hospital, one of the largest private clinics in Delhi, ranks among the top 10 Multi Sup

• 60+ Years of Experience
• JCI Accredited

• NABH Accredited

Procedures Offered :

Dental, Bariatric, Orthopedic, Neuro & Spine, & More

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•  State-of-the-art technology, world-class facilities, and an experienced surgical, medical, and radiation oncologist team, including reconstructive microvascular surgeons. 
• World-class robotics program for oncology cases.
• Advanced cancer treatment facilities such as TomoTherapy, Trilogy Tx Linear Accelerator, HDR Brachytherapy, Megavoltage Computed Tomography, and the latest configuration of Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT).

Anadolu Medical Center

3.9 (568 Verified Reviews)

Cumhuriyet, 2255. Sk. No: 3, 41400 Gebze/Kocaeli, Türkiye
Istanbul, Turkey

Anadolu Medical Center is a multi-specialty hospital located in Istanbul, Turkey.

It operates a network of clinics in various cities such as Kemer, Belek, Antalya, Side, Alanya, Aspendos, and Lara, along with its laboratory and research institute.

The hospital collaborates with Johns Hopkins Medical Center (USA), enabling the exchange of medical information and facilitating the education of

• ISO Certified
• JCI Accredited

• ESMO Certified

Procedures Offered :

Orthopedic, Neuro & Spine, Cancer, General Surgery, & More

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• Association with renowned medical thought-leaders like John Hopkins Hospital, Organisation of European Cancer Institutes & European Society of Medical Oncology.
• Multi-faceted cancer care including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, assessment of treatment plan & emotional support.
• Experts with over 4 decades of experience in the field of oncology.

Max Super Specialty Hospital

4.1 (3,956 Verified Reviews)

108A, IP Extension, I.P.Extension, Patparganj, Delhi, 110092, IndiaNew Delhi, India

Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj, offers advanced medical care in Cardiac Sciences, Oncology, Neurosciences, and more.

With 116 ICU beds, 11 high-end Operation Theatres, and over 510 doctors and 770 nurses, it delivers holistic healthcare.

Accredited by NABL and NABH, the hospital excels in complex procedures like neurovascular interventions and cancer treatments.

• AACI Accredited
• JCI Certified

• NABH Accredited

Procedures Offered :

Bariatric, Orthopedic, Neuro & Spine, Cosmetic, & More

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• Accurate diagnosis through complex tests such as genomic sequencing, identifying specific mutations or alterations, amongst other tests. 
• Advanced technologies, including Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) and Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) for high-end precision in treatments.
• Distinguished medical experts affiliated with globally recognized medical and oncological associations. 

Best Doctors for Cancer Treatment Abroad

Dr. Chandragouda Dodagoudar

19 years

MD (General Medicine)

Expertise

Medical Oncology

Education

Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India.

• Best Resident Doctor award at RGCI and RC- Received an award from Honorable Vice President of India
• Organ-Specific Medical Oncologist
• Bharat Jyoti Award from NGO - India International Friendship Society

Dr. Pramod Kumar Julka

44 years

M.D.

Expertise

Oncology

Education

Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India

• Emeritus Member - American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
• Member - Society of Cancer Research & National Advisory Committee of Global Cancer Summit 2015
• Leading Scientist of the World 2005’ Award - International Biographical Centre of Cambridge, England (2005)

Why Choose MTC Partner Hospitals for Cancer Treatment Abroad?

Comprehensive Patient Care with gold certification in patient-centric care excellence.

Advanced technology such as Da Vinci XI robots for precision surgery or the megavoltage Computed Tomography, guided by IGRT technology.

Top-notch hospitals with affiliations from the world-renowned John Hopkins Institute

Oncologists with over 4 decades of experience in multi-disciplinary fields

Experts from some of the highest-rated medical associations, such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Indo-American Cancer Association.

Seamless International Patient Service ensures patients are comfortable throughout their journey and receive safe and quality cancer treatment.

Conclusion

Discover cancer treatment abroad with our partner hospitals. Travel to some of the best countries and get affordable, safe, and quality cancer treatment today. Contact us to find the right hospital for your cancer treatment today.

Is Cancer Treatment Safe Abroad?

Yes cancer treatment abroad is safe, with a success rate that ranges between 83% to 85%. However, as is the risk with cancer, there are side effects to all treatments, and a 100% cure is not guaranteed.

FAQ