Cancer is a large group of diseases where some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably. The cancer can spread through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, but not all cancers spread widely and some of them remain localised. It can start almost from anywhere in the human body, which consists of trillions of cells. The normal cells can grow and divide to replace old or damaged cells in a controlled way. When the damaged cells grow, they form tumors which can be cancerous or non-cancerous. Doctors define lipomas as tumors composed of fat tissue. Not all tumors are cancerous but some are cancerous. Thailand has become a major and popular destination for cancer treatment for their advanced technology and lower cost than many Western countries.
They use advanced technology like robotic surgery and advanced radiation therapy, etc, which makes them gain the international patients’ trust. Hospitals like Bumrungrad International, Vejthani Hospital and Bangkok Hospital are some of the top hospitals that provide the best cancer treatment in Thailand. Now, in this blog, we will discuss about the all the basic information regarding cancer treatment in Thailand.
What is Cancer Treatment?
The cancer treatment includes surgery, radiation and many other therapies. The main goal of cancer treatment is to cure or shrink the cancer or to stop it from spreading. A cancer treatment plan may be based on which type of cancer you have and your situation. If the cure is not possible, then the doctors give the treatment to shrink the cancer cells or slow down their growth. The treatment may help live without the symptoms for a long period.
Types of Cancer Treatment
Types of treatment depend on the type and stage of cancer and how advanced it is. Here are some of the common types of cancer treatments:
Surgery
The goal of the surgery is to remove all cancer cells and even those from the surrounding healthy tissues. A pathologist examines the removed tissues. to ensure there are no cancer cells. Surgery is the most common treatment for cancer and it helps to reduce the symptoms. It usually involves cutting into the body and we call it a procedure, operation and surgical resection. A professional team of surgical oncologists performs it. They can remove most of the cancers which found at an early stage through surgery.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, or chemo, uses chemotherapy drugs to kill cancer cells. These drugs travel through your bloodstream and destroy the fast growing cells, like cancer cells. It is a systemic treatment, which means it works throughout your body. Sometimes the doctors deliver the chemotherapy directly to the cancer, and this is called local chemotherapy. The other name of these drugs is cytotoxics, which means toxic to cells. Chemotherapy medicines are mostly given through veins, but some come in pill form, which we call oral chemotherapy and IV chemotherapy
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is also called radiotherapy, which uses in high enery radiation to kill the cancer cells or slow down their growth by damaging DNA. When the DNA of a cancer cell is damaged, the cell can no longer divide and eventually dies. The body then naturally removes these dead cells. At low doses, the radiation is used for diagnosis in X-rays. At higher doses, it is used for the treatment and is carefully focused on the area of the cancer to protect the healthy tissues.
Bone Marrow Transplant
A bone marrow transplant is also called as a stem cell transplant. It is a procedure that restores blood stem cells in people. The high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy used to treat cancers, blood disorders and autoimmune disorders destroy those cells. The stem cell transplants treat people with cancer that affects the blood cells such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and the myelodysplastic syndromes.
There are two main types:
- Autologous transplant: The healthy stem cells are collected from the patient’s own body before the high dose treatment starts, and then reinfused to rebuild the blood and immune system.
- Allogeneic transplant: Another person donates the stem cells. The critical donor matching is based on HLA which is human leukocyte antigen; this tissue typing is not simply blood type. Doctors usually test close relatives first to find a suitable donor, but they may also use unrelated donors with a compatible HLA profile. The close blood relation alone does not guarantee a match.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment that slows or stops the growth of cancer that uses hormones to grow. The other name for this is endocrine therapy. Hormone therapy uses hormones that are produced in the laboratory to slow the effect of the body’s natural hormones like estrogen or testosterone. Hormone therapy treatment removes those hormones from the body or blocks their effects in order to stop the cancer cells from growing. There are two common types of hormone therapy. Estrogen blockers are used for treating breast cancer and androgen blockers are used for prostate cancer.
Cost of Cancer Treatment in Thailand
The average cost of cancer treatment in Thailand ranges from THB 68,000 to 5,100,000 and in USD around 2,000 to 150,000. The exact price depends on the cancer stage, cancer type, therapies required like surgery or chemotherapy and the hospital facility.
Cost Breakdown of Cancer Treatment in Thailand
Here is the cost breakdown of cancer treatment in Thailand in THB and USD:
| Treatments | Approx Cost in THB | Approx Cost in USD |
| Surgery | 272,000 – 408,000 | 8,000 – 12,000 |
| Chemotherapy | 68,000 – 170,000 | 2,000 – 5,000 |
| Radiation Therapy | 136,000 – 340,000 | 4,000 – 10,000 |
| Bone Marrow Transplant | 1,700,000 – 2,720,000+ | 50,000 – 80,000+ |
| Hormone Therapy | 3,100 – 140,000 | 100 – 4,000 |
Note: Costs may vary depending on hospital, cancer stage, treatment plan, and patient condition.
Factors Affecting Cancer Treatment Cost
There are many factors that can affect the cost of cancer treatment in Thailand. Some of those factors are:
- It depends on the type and stage of the cancer. When it’s in its last stage of cancer the cost goes very high.
- Treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and advanced therapies have their own different costs.
- Private hospitals or public hospitals have their own insurance policy and medical package that affects the patient’s budget.
- The additional services, accommodation, diagnostic imaging, specialist consultation, and post treatment follow up all contribute to the total cost.
Cost Comparison of Cancer Treatment in Other Countries
Here is the cost comparison of the different countries for cancer treatment:
| Countries | Approx Cost in their own currency | Approx Cost In USD |
| Thailand | THB 68,000 to 5,100,000 | 2,000 to 150,000+ |
| India | INR 8,00,000 to 25,00,000 | 8,000 to 28,000+ |
| Germany | EURO 23,000 to 75,000 | 27,000 to 86,000+ |
| USA | USD 120,000 to 300,000 | 120,000 to 300,000+ |
| Singapore | SGD 54,000 to 192,000 | 42,000 to 150,000+ |
Note: The treatment costs mentioned above are estimated prices and may vary depending on the hospital, city, and patient’s condition.
Top Hospitals for Cancer Treatment in Thailand
Here are some of the top hospitals in Thailand for cancer treatment:
Bangkok Hospital
Bangkok Hospital is one of the leading hospitals in Thailand that provides high quality facilities to both national and international cancer patients. They offer a large variety of cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy and precision surgery through its specialised cancer care centres. This hospital offers a special department for cancer which has advanced technologies like robotic assisted surgeries through the da Vinci Xi system, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. They have highly skilled medical oncologists with vast experience in treating various cancer patients. JCI accredits it and it has a state of the art infrastructure that meets global standards.
Bumrungrad International Hospital
Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok is one of the best cancer hospitals in Thailand. The modern cancer centre of this hospital provides advanced diagnostics, the best medicine and minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat cancers. They generally treat these types of cancer, which are breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, blood cancer and many more. Bumrungrad International Hospital mainly treat breast cancer through its highly experience oncologist. This hospital has advanced technology like the TrueBeam STx radiation therapy system and hyper accurate tumour targeting without damaging any healthy cells.
Vejthani Hospital
Vejthani Hospital is one of the best hospitals for cancer treatment in Thailand that provides cutting edge medical technology and advanced research. They have a team of highly skilled and internationally trained doctors who provide the best possible care to the patient. The Joint Commission International (JCI) accredits Vejthani Hospital. They have a state of the art medical facility that provides world class medical care and modern infrastructure with the latest technology. It has a modernised laboratory with international certification that has a full fledged radiology department with portable X-ray, CT scan and MRI.
Disclaimer: Before selecting a hospital, carefully check its facilities, patient care, and the doctor’s expertise to ensure you receive safe, high quality medical treatment that meets your needs.
Why Choose Thailand for Cancer Treatment?
- Affordable Treatment Cost: The cost of the cancer treatment in Thailand is much cheaper than in other countries and without compromising on the quality, expertise and patient comfort.
- World Class Facility: They have the best hospitals that are accredited with JCI and ISO, which ensure to meet the global standard in patient safety and quality healthcare.
- Advanced Technology and Treatment: They offer treatments such as proton therapy, robotic assisted surgeries, immunotherapy and cutting-edge technology and minimally invasive procedures that improve the success rate and reduce recovery time.
- Expert Oncologist with Global Training: The oncologists in Thailand are internationally trained and have many years of experience. Apart from that, they work as a team to treat cancer.
- Healing and Holistic Environment: They provide services like nutrition guides, meditation, stress reduction therapies and promote both emotional and physical well being.
Conclusion
At the end of this blog, we have talked about how Thailand is one of the best countries for cancer treatments. Thailand gives traditional therapies like surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, etc., to the patient in their treatment. The hospitals of Thailand offer world class infrastructure and advanced technology with their experienced professional doctors, which helps them to treat cancer patients effectively. The cost of the cancer treatment in Thailand is very low compared to other countries. Moreover, it does not compromise on the quality or the treatment and the infrastructure. Thailand’s hospitals make it easy for international patients to come to Thailand for their treatment and provide the best environment for their full treatment.
Disclaimer: The hospitals, countries and the patient’s condition may affect the above treatment costs, so they are only estimates. For knowing the exact cost and medical guidance, please contact the hospital directly.
