India’s top oncology centres — Apollo Hospitals, Tata Memorial Centre, Fortis Cancer Institute, and Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute — treat cancer volumes that rival or exceed many European specialist centres. Chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and complex surgical oncology are all available at 60–80% below UK private costs.
For patients facing private oncology bills of £20,000–100,000+ in the UK, or long waits for NHS specialist referral, India is an increasingly realistic option — particularly for prostate cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancers, and haematological malignancies.
Cancer Treatment Costs: India vs UK
| Treatment | India | UK (private) |
|---|---|---|
| Chemotherapy (per cycle) | £300–800 | £1,500–5,000 |
| Radiation therapy (full course, IMRT) | £3,000–7,000 | £15,000–30,000 |
| CyberKnife / SBRT (stereotactic) | £4,000–9,000 | £15,000–25,000 |
| Proton therapy | £15,000–25,000 | £90,000–130,000 |
| Immunotherapy (per cycle, e.g. pembrolizumab) | £1,500–4,000 | £6,000–15,000 |
| Targeted therapy (e.g. imatinib, trastuzumab) | £400–2,500/month | £2,000–10,000/month |
| Surgical oncology (e.g. colectomy, mastectomy) | £3,000–8,000 | £12,000–25,000 |
| Bone marrow transplant (autologous) | £12,000–20,000 | £50,000–80,000 |
| Bone marrow transplant (allogeneic) | £18,000–35,000 | £80,000–140,000 |
| Second opinion / tumour board review | £300–600 | £500–1,500 |
Drug costs vary significantly by specific agent and protocol. Prices above are illustrative — request itemised quotes.
India’s Leading Cancer Hospitals
Apollo Hospitals (Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai)
The largest private hospital group in India, with dedicated cancer institutes (Apollo Cancer Centres) at multiple locations. Chennai’s Apollo Proton Cancer Centre is India’s first and largest proton therapy centre — one of only a handful in the world. Apollo operates with JCI accreditation and publishes outcome data. Strong in haematology, breast oncology, and GI cancers.
Tata Memorial Centre (Mumbai)
India’s premier publicly funded cancer institution and one of Asia’s largest oncology centres. Established in 1941. Treats over 80,000 new cancer patients per year. Exceptionally strong in complex surgical oncology, haematological malignancies, and paediatric oncology. Less focused on international patient services than Apollo or Fortis, but the clinical quality is among the best in the country. Associated with the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC).
Fortis Cancer Institute (Delhi / Gurgaon)
Part of the Fortis Healthcare network. Modern facilities, JCI-accredited, with dedicated international patient services. Strong in radiation oncology (IMRT, IGRT, CyberKnife) and surgical oncology. Delhi’s accessibility (major international hub) makes Fortis a practical choice for UK patients.
Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute (Delhi)
Dedicated cancer-only hospital in Delhi. Strong oncology focus, bone marrow transplant programme, and robust robotic surgery capability. Handles high volumes of both domestic and international patients.
HCG (HealthCare Global) — Bangalore, Ahmedabad, others
India’s largest dedicated cancer hospital network. Strong in radiation oncology with modern linear accelerators across multiple sites.
What Treatments Are Available in India?
Radiation Therapy
India’s top centres offer the full range of modern radiation modalities:
- IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation therapy) — standard at all major centres
- IGRT (image-guided) — available at most major centres
- SBRT/SABR (stereotactic body radiotherapy) — for lung, liver, prostate
- CyberKnife — robotic stereotactic radiosurgery, available at several Apollo and Fortis sites
- Proton therapy — Apollo Chennai (Varian ProBeam system). Relevant for paediatric tumours, base of skull tumours, prostate, and re-irradiation cases
Surgical Oncology
Robotic surgery (da Vinci system) is available at Apollo, Fortis, and Manipal hospitals for prostate, colorectal, gynaecological, and urological cancers. High-volume surgical teams with subspecialty expertise.
Systemic Therapy
All standard chemotherapy protocols and most targeted therapy agents are available in India. Biosimilar versions of trastuzumab (Herceptin), bevacizumab (Avastin), and rituximab are available at significant cost reductions versus originator products — with established safety and efficacy data in Indian oncology practice.
Immunotherapy (checkpoint inhibitors: pembrolizumab, nivolumab, atezolizumab) is available at major centres, typically at 50–70% below UK private prices.
Bone Marrow Transplant (Stem Cell Transplant)
India has established bone marrow transplant programmes at Apollo, Fortis, Tata Memorial, and Rajiv Gandhi. Both autologous (using your own stem cells) and allogeneic (donor) transplants are available. Allogeneic transplants require a matched donor — international donor registries are accessible through Indian transplant programmes.
Tumour Board / Second Opinion
Many international patients use India primarily for a second opinion — submitting their pathology slides, imaging, and notes for review by a multidisciplinary tumour board. This is available at Apollo and Fortis for £300–600 and can be done remotely (you send your materials, they review and provide a written report).
A tumour board second opinion from an Indian centre of this calibre is clinically equivalent to a UK or US private second opinion, at a fraction of the cost.
Practical Planning for Cancer Treatment in India
How Long Do You Need to Stay?
This depends entirely on your treatment:
- Second opinion only: No travel required (remote review possible)
- Short surgical procedure: 10–21 days
- Radiation course (IMRT/SBRT): 1–6 weeks depending on fractionation
- Chemotherapy: Typically cycles every 3 weeks — many patients return to the UK between cycles and travel back for each one
- Bone marrow transplant: 6–10 weeks minimum on-site
Coordinating with Your UK Oncologist
This is important. Your UK oncologist should:
- Provide all relevant records (pathology report with histology, staging imaging, previous treatment summaries)
- Be willing to communicate with your Indian oncology team
- Receive a full treatment summary after completion in India
Most Indian hospitals issue detailed English-language discharge summaries and can communicate directly with UK oncologists by email or video call. NHS oncologists in the UK can continue monitoring, manage complications, and continue systemic therapy protocols on return.
What to Bring to India
- Complete pathology report and tumour histology (the actual pathology slides may need to be shipped — ask the hospital)
- All staging imaging (CT, PET-CT, MRI) — DICOM format on USB or via upload
- Previous treatment records (chemotherapy protocols, radiation records)
- Current medications list
- GP letter with medical history summary
Most hospitals have international patient departments that coordinate everything in advance. Apollo and Fortis both have London-based representatives for pre-travel planning.
Travel Insurance
Standard travel insurance excludes pre-existing conditions and planned medical treatment. Specialist medical travel insurance exists for this purpose but is expensive and limited. Many patients travel without insurance for the treatment itself, relying on the hospital’s own complication management. Discuss this openly with the hospital’s international patient team.
Visa
India offers a Medical Visa (M Visa) specifically for medical treatment — valid for up to 1 year with multiple entry, allowing companions. Apply through the Indian High Commission in London. You’ll need a letter from the treating hospital confirming your appointment.
Is India Right for Your Cancer Treatment?
India is a strong option if:
- You need chemotherapy, radiation, or targeted therapy and cost is the primary barrier
- You need proton therapy (one of the few affordable sources globally)
- You want a high-quality tumour board second opinion
- You need a bone marrow transplant and face significant cost barriers in the UK
- Your cancer is one where Indian centres have particularly strong track records: haematological malignancies, breast, GI, head and neck, prostate, gynaecological
Consider Germany or the UK if:
- Your cancer is extremely rare and requires highly specialised surgical or systemic expertise available only at a handful of European centres
- You have complex comorbidities requiring multidisciplinary management outside oncology
- You cannot travel or stay abroad for extended periods
Always involve your UK oncologist. A cancer diagnosis is not the time to make major treatment decisions without coordinated medical oversight. The question is where treatment happens, not whether it happens in a medically organised way.