Lung Cancer Treatment in India: NSCLC, SCLC, Targeted Therapy & Costs 2025

Complete guide to lung cancer treatment in India — from diagnosis to targeted therapy, immunotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery (SBRT) and HIPEC, with stage-wise cost breakdown for international patients.

Types of Lung Cancer Treated in India

• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) — adenocarcinoma, squamous cell, large cell
• Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) — chemo + radiation + prophylactic cranial irradiation
• Malignant pleural mesothelioma
• Carcinoid tumours and neuroendocrine tumours of the lung

Advanced Treatment Options in India

• Targeted therapy: EGFR inhibitors (Erlotinib, Gefitinib, Osimertinib), ALK inhibitors (Crizotinib, Alectinib)
• Immunotherapy: Pembrolizumab, Atezolizumab, Nivolumab — PD-L1 testing available
• SBRT/SABR for early-stage inoperable lung cancer
• VATS (Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery) and robotic lobectomy
• Next-generation sequencing (NGS) for comprehensive tumour profiling

Cost of Lung Cancer Treatment in India

• Surgery (lobectomy/pneumonectomy): ₹4–8 lakh ($5,000–10,000)
• Targeted therapy (Osimertinib/month): ₹40,000–80,000 vs $15,000 in USA
• Immunotherapy (Pembrolizumab/cycle): ₹1.5–3 lakh vs $15,000 in USA
• SBRT (5 fractions): ₹1.5–3 lakh ($1,800–3,600)
• NGS tumour profiling: ₹30,000–60,000 ($360–720)