When you hear “immunotherapy”, especially in connection with cancer, it’s natural to feel emotions — hope, confusion, even worry.
What is immunotherapy? How does it work? And most importantly: how much does immunotherapy cost?
In this guide, we explain everything in simple language — what immunotherapy is, how it works, types of treatment, expected costs (especially in Navi Mumbai), and why Ashtvinayak Hospital Panvel may be a supportive place for care.
Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that helps your body’s own immune system find and fight cancer cells.
Normally, your immune system protects you from infections. Cancer cells, however, often hide from the immune system or suppress it.
Immunotherapy works by:
Unlike chemotherapy, immunotherapy does not directly attack cancer — it strengthens your natural defense system.
Here’s a simple explanation of how immunotherapy fights cancer:
It helps immune cells identify cancer cells.
It strengthens immune cells like T-cells.
Immune cells attack and destroy cancer cells.
Some therapies “train” the immune system to remember cancer cells in the future.
Because of this long-term effect, immunotherapy may work even when other treatments fail — though it doesn’t work for everyone.
Here are the most common forms:
Remove the “brakes” that cancer puts on immune cells.
Lab-made molecules that mark cancer cells for attack.
Help the immune system recognize cancer.
Immune cells are taken from your body, modified, and put back to fight cancer.
Drugs that change immune behavior and boost activity.
Treatment choice depends on cancer type, stage, and patient health.
Before starting treatment, doctors must check if immunotherapy is safe and effective for you.
These steps may cost tens of thousands of rupees even before the first treatment cycle.
In India, commonly used immunotherapies include:
The treatment plan and cost vary depending on cancer type, response, and number of cycles required.
In many Indian hospitals:
₹1,50,000 to ₹4,50,000 per cycle (for most checkpoint inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies).
CAR-T therapy may cost significantly more due to specialized lab work.
Depends on:
These numbers are approximate and vary by hospital and medication.
Patients respond differently:
At Ashtvinayak Hospital Panvel, oncologists study each case carefully to recommend the safest, most beneficial approach.
A well-informed decision reduces stress and improves outcomes.
This makes treatment smoother and more reassuring for patients.
Medicine cost per cycle, hospital charges, tests, supportive care, and follow-up visits.
Yes, India offers significantly lower costs with high-quality care.
No, only certain cancers respond. Suitability must be checked by a doctor.
Yes — fatigue, skin reactions, and sometimes immune-related complications.
Insurance or assistance may be available depending on your policy.
Check with the hospital billing team for details.
Immunotherapy is one of the most advanced cancer treatments today. It uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer — a method that can be powerful and life-changing. However, it is costly, and total expenses vary widely. With proper planning, open discussions with oncologists, and support from trusted hospitals like Ashtvinayak Hospital Panvel, many families can make informed, confident decisions about treatment.
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