13/10/2025
40 lakhs package for breast cancer treatment!
42 year old lady from Chennai, cT2N1M0, ER/PR/HER-2 Triple +ve breast cancer is planned for 6 years 3 months Rx.
6TCHP (Chemo+Immuno)-BCS (Surgery)-RT (Radiation)-11 HP (Immunotherapy)-5 years Hormone Treatment.
In PMJAY (Ayushman Bharat Scheme) same treatment without Pertuzumab (one Immunotherapy) costs 9 lakhs. Thanks to lengthy Rx, cost doesn't exceed the limit of 5 lakhs/year.
A second opinion from Adyar Cancer Centre is what I suggested. Though the 40 lakhs package treatment is standard, the cost is prohibitive.
40 lakh health cover comes at a cost of βΉ50,000/ year premium.
This underlined the importance of having screening mammography starting at age 40.
Public health policy of not doing mass screening mammography, for 150 million women in 40-74 age group, has its own logic in India.
But, at individual level one should take a call if not covered by PMJAY or an expensive health insurance.