Surgery for Oral Cancer in India: Guide to Cost, Hospital & Surgeon

Q: What is the survival rate of oral cancer in India?

The survival rate of oral cancer in India is 90% if diagnosed early.

Is the thought of oral cancer surgery making you anxious? Worry not! Oral cancer treatment in India is of high quality and is much more affordable than in countries such as the US, UK, and Australia. Learn everything about cost, the best hospitals, surgeons, and the success rate of oral cancer in India.

What Is the Cost of Surgery for Oral Cancer in India?

The cost of oral cancer surgery in India is around $5000. However, the surgery cost in the USA starts at $17,000^[1]. The cost of treatment is higher for advanced stages of oral cancer, as they often require pre-treatment with radiation and chemotherapies.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the cost of surgery in India and the USA:

Cost of surgery in India (in USD)	Cost of surgery in the USA (in USD)
$5000	$17,000 onwards

Cost of Alternate Treatments for Oral Cancer

Besides surgery, other treatment options for oral cancer include:

Radiation therapy: This therapy uses external energy beams or radioactive materials placed inside the body, called brachytherapy, to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be used before surgery to destroy cancer cells and shrink the tumor, making it easy for surgical removal. When used after surgery, it is done to kill any remaining cancer cells.
Chemotherapy: This systemic therapy uses anticancer drugs to destroy or kill cancer cells. Cisplatin and fluorouracil are common chemotherapeutic drugs used in the treatment of oral cancer.
Immunotherapy: This type of biological therapy uses medicines and therapy to stimulate and boost the individual’s immune system, allowing it to find and destroy cancer cells effectively.

Treatment	Cost of Treatment in India (in USD)	Cost of Treatment in the USA (in USD)
Chemotherapy	Starts at $250 - $300	Around $9,000- $12,000^[2]
Radiation therapy	$4400 - $6500	$ 52,034^[3]
Immunotherapy	Starts at $1200 and goes upto $85000	Starts at $15,000 and can go up to $400,000

Know the complete guide to Immunotherapy for Oral Cancer in India here!

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Procedure

Surgery is usually the first line of treatment for oral cancers. Surgery aims to remove the entire cancerous tissue while preserving surrounding structures, physical appearance, and the ability to speak and swallow. Oral cancer surgery is performed under general anesthesia and requires a hospital stay.

Types of Surgery

There are different types of surgery for oral cancer. Some of these include:

Resection: The surgeons remove the tumor and the surrounding healthy tissue margin. This is done to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Mohs micrographic surgery: This technique is used for lip cancers. During this procedure, the upper layer of the tumor is removed and checked for abnormal or cancerous fat cells. The procedure continues until the surgeon reaches a layer without cancer cells.
Glossectomy: When oral cancer affects the tongue, a glossectomy is performed.
Mandibulectomy: This surgery is done to remove the part of the complete lower jaw affected by cancer.
Maxillectomy: The surgeon removes a part of the complete soft palate (roof of the mouth).
Oral reconstruction surgery: When functional structures of the head and neck region, like the jaw, are removed during oral cancer surgery, they are reconstructed to restore form and function.
Robotic surgery: It is a minimally invasive advanced surgery in which the surgeon performs the surgery remotely with the assistance of robots. The surgeon controls the robotic arm, allowing them to perform the surgery precisely.

Want to know more about surgery as a treatment option for other cancers? Read our blog on Robotic Surgery for Prostate Cancer In India.

Precautions and Preparations Before the Surgery

Before you undergo surgery for oral cancer, there are a few things your doctor will advise you to do to prepare for it.

Check your fitness for surgery

Your surgeon will prescribe a few tests before the surgery to check your fitness for anesthesia. They will also recommend a few other tests:

Routine blood tests
An ECG to check if your heart is healthy
Lung function tests
A chest x-ray to ensure your lungs are healthy
A stress test to check your heart and lung function when resting and during exercise

Lifestyle modifications

Before and after your oral cancer surgery, your doctor may advise the following measures:

Quit smoking and consumption of alcohol. Smoking after surgery has been found to increase pain and difficulty in mouth opening.^[4]
Exercise for atleast 30 minutes a day daily. Several studies have examined how physical activity and exercise among people with oral cancer help reduce fatigue and anxiety.^[5]
Perform stress-busting activities like meditation or yoga to calm your mind.

Removal of teeth and planning replacement

If the oral cancer surgery is going to cause the removal of a significant part of the jaw or cause a loss of teeth, you may require implants or dentures to replace the missing teeth. Your surgeon will discuss the rehabilitation plan before the surgery.

Recovery After Oral Surgery

You will be required to stay at the hospital for a few days after surgery to recover. Your stay at the hospital depends upon the extent of surgery and what part of the oral cavity was removed. However, it may take several weeks for you to recover completely.

You will be prescribed medications to help minimize pain and discomfort. Diet, speech, and swallowing may be affected depending on the part of the oral cavity that has been operated on.

Side Effects of Oral Surgery

Common side effects of oral cancer surgery include^[6]

Pain
Swelling
Bleeding from the surgical site
Bloated face
Difficulty in eating
Numbness in the ear, weakness in the shoulder or lower lip (if lymph nodes have been removed during surgery)

Overview of Oral Cancer

Oral cancer affects the mouth, back of the throat, and nearby structures. Cancer can develop on the tongue, cheek, lining of the mouth, on and under the tongue, roof, and floor of the mouth. It is the 6th most common cancer worldwide.^[7]

Oral cancer, also called mouth cancer, is a type of head and neck cancer. It usually begins in the flat cells found in the lining of the mouth, tongue, and lips. Most oral cancers are squamous cell cancers (they begin on the lining of the structures in the mouth).

While anyone can develop oral cancer, they are more common in males.^[8]

Surgery is the primary treatment for early-stage oral cancers and often the only treatment required. The type of surgery depends upon the extent of the cancer and its location in the mouth.

Surgery for oral cancer aims to remove the cancer completely, with minimal damage to speech, swallowing, or facial structure and appearance.

During the surgery, the surgeon removes the cancerous part, along with surrounding healthy tissue, to ensure no cancer cells remain behind to cause a recurrence. If the surgeon suspects the cancer cells have affected the lymph nodes, they are also removed during the surgery. This is called a neck dissection.

India & Oral Cancer: Research to Tackle the Problem

Oral cancer is the 6th most common cancer worldwide.^[9] Despite having 1/3rd of the global cases of oral cancer, India has made significant progress in detection and affordable treatment, making it the preferred destination for treatments.

In one of the latest developments, researchers in India have observed that all cancer patients do not respond the same way to oral cancer treatment, indicating that there may be a genetic component involved. This was studied jointly by scientists at the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics and doctors at R. Ahmed Dental College, Kolkata, and published in the journal Cancer Science.^[10]

Success Rate of Surgery for Oral Cancer in India

The success rate of surgery for oral cancer in India is over 90% when diagnosed early.^[11]

While the survival rate is dependent upon many factors, such as the age of the patient and the stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis and beginning of treatment, experienced doctors and affordable tertiary care have improved the success rate of surgery for oral cancer in India. Surgery with radiotherapy was found to be more beneficial than surgery alone.

Best Hospital for Surgery for Oral Cancer in India.

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

Book Appointment

Advanced technology medical oncology like immunotherapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy
Leading medical oncology specialists with organ-specific expertise
Round-the-clock critical care with OPD services, which are designed for an organ-specific approach

Max Smart Super Specialty Hospital

4.3 (1,671 Verified Reviews)

Press Enclave Marg, Saket District Centre, Saket, New Delhi, Delhi 110017, IndiaNew Delhi, India

Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, is a 250-bed facility with 12 modular theatres, emergency care, 50 critical beds, and advanced diagnostic units.

Equipped with 256 Slice CT Angio, 3.0 Tesla MRI, and Cath Labs, it offers Cardiac Sciences, Orthopaedics, Urology, Neurology, Paediatrics, Obstetrics, and Gynaecology.

With 300+ specialists and advanced technology, it provides comprehens

NABH Accredited
300+ Doctors

22+ Departments

Procedures Offered :

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

Book Appointment

JCI-accredited with high-tech equipment like Da Vinci Robot, Novalis Tx for IMRT/IGRT, Radiosurgery, HIPEC and SRS/SRT for oncology care
Pioneers in all kinds of cancer treatment, including immunotherapy, hormone therapy and stem cell transplant
Highly skilled oncology team, including specialists with over 4 decades of experience

Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali

4.6 (11791 Verified Reviews)

W-3, Ashok Marg, near Radisson Blu Hotel, Sector-1, Vaishali, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201012.Ghaziabad, India

Max Super Specialty Hospital in Vaishali, Ghaziabad, is considered one of the best hospitals in Delhi-NCR.

Renowned for its world-class infrastructure, advanced technology, and stringent health and safety standards, it has earned multiple awards and industry accreditations, establishing itself as a leader among healthcare providers.

NABH Accreditation
NABL Accreditation

28+ Specialities

Procedures Offered :

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

Book Appointment

State-of-the-art facilities and comprehensive support services for patients undergoing advanced immunotherapy like CAR-T cell therapy.
Top haematology experts who provide advanced oncology care to patients.
NABH-accredited multidisciplinary hospital with over 260 leading specialists.

Best Specialist for Surgery for Oral Cancer in India.