Mastectomy Cost in India | Breast Cancer Surgery

Q: What is the difference between a radical mastectomy and a modified radical mastectomy?

A simple mastectomy (left) removes the breast tissue, nipple, areola and skin but not all the lymph nodes. A modified radical mastectomy (right) removes the entire breast — including the breast tissue, skin, areola and nipple — and most of the underarm (axillary) lymph nodes.

Q: How long does a modified radical mastectomy take?

The surgery takes about 2 to 4 hours. You will be under general anesthesia; the surgeon will make a single incision across one side of the chest. The skin is pulled back, and the doctor will remove the entire breast tissue, along with the lining over the pectoralis major.

Q: What is the fastest way to recover from a mastectomy?

Rest. Take pain medication as needed. Take sponge baths until your doctor has removed your drains and/or sutures. Continue doing arm exercises each day. Have friends and family pitch in around the house.

Q: What can you not do after a mastectomy?

Avoid strenuous activity, heavy lifting and vigorous exercise until the stitches are removed. Tell your caregiver what you do and he or she will help you make a personal plan for "what you can do when" after surgery. Walking is a normal activity that can be restarted right away.

Q: How long do drains stay in after mastectomy?

In most, but not all cases, the nipple and areola are also removed. The surgeon closes the skin with stitches and puts in 1-2 tubes (surgical drains) so fluid from the wound can drain out. The drain(s) stays in for about a week to 10 days after surgery.

Q: How long after mastectomy can you sleep on your side?

Do not sleep on your side or stomach for one to three weeks.

Q: How long does it take for nerves to regenerate after mastectomy?

Nerves take time to regenerate, because they grow at a rate of about 1 mm/day. It may take several months after your surgery before you notice sensation returning, and the change in sensation can continue to develop for up to two years.

Mastectomy Package

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Surgery Name	Cost	Room	Hospitalization
Mastectomy Package	$3301	Single	Patient - 3 days stay in a single room.

✓ Inclusion

✔Consultation with senior breast / surgical oncologist
✔Tumour board review of the case
✔Routine pre-surgery tests as per hospital protocol
✔Modified radical or total mastectomy with lymph node surgery as planned
✔Surgeon, assistant and anaesthetist fees
✔Operation theatre charges and surgical consumables
✔3 days stay in a single room
✔Routine medicines, antibiotics and dressings
✔Histopathology of removed tissue with ER/PR/HER2 if needed
✔Physiotherapy guidance for arm exercises
✔Meals for the patient as per hospital diet
✔Free: airport pick-up & drop, visa invitation letter, interpreter & coordinator (Satyug Healthcare)

✗ Exclusion

✖International flights and visa fees
✖Hotel stay before admission and after discharge
✖PET-CT, MRI, bone scan and genetic (BRCA) tests
✖Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone and targeted therapy
✖Breast reconstruction, implants or flap surgery
✖Sentinel node radio-isotope tracer (if used)
✖Extra hospital days and ICU stay
✖Blood and blood products
✖External breast prosthesis and special bras
✖Attendant meals and personal expenses

Know More About Procedure & Surgery

🇮🇳 CANCER SURGERY PACKAGE — INDIA

Mastectomy Surgery in India

Modified radical or total mastectomy for breast cancer, with removal of underarm lymph nodes as needed, done by experienced breast and surgical oncologists at accredited Indian cancer centres – at a fraction of Western prices.

✅ Free Medical Opinion in 48–72 h🎗️ Tumour board-planned treatment💰 Starting USD 3,301✈️ Visa & Airport Support🗣️ Interpreter Available

⏱️

2–3 hrs

Surgery time

🏥

3 days

Hospital stay

📈

90%+

5-yr survival, early

📅

2 weeks

Total stay in India

📖 What is a Mastectomy?

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. It starts in the milk ducts or glands of the breast and can spread to the lymph nodes in the armpit (axilla) and then to other organs. When found early, it is highly curable with surgery, often combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormone tablets.

A mastectomy is surgery to remove the whole breast. In a modified radical mastectomy (MRM) the breast tissue, nipple, areola and the lymph nodes in the armpit are removed, but the chest muscle is kept. A total (simple) mastectomy removes the breast with only a few sentinel lymph nodes. The removed tissue is checked in the laboratory to decide the next stage of treatment.

🩺 Conditions Treated

🎗️

Invasive breast cancer

Cancer that is large compared with the breast size, or in more than one area of the breast.

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DCIS (early non-invasive cancer)

Widespread ductal carcinoma in situ that cannot be removed with a small operation.

🧬

BRCA gene mutation

Risk-reducing mastectomy for women with a very high inherited risk.

🔁

Recurrent breast cancer

Cancer that returns in the same breast after breast-conserving surgery and radiation.

☢️

When radiation is not possible

Patients who cannot have radiotherapy after lumpectomy (e.g. pregnancy, previous chest radiation).

👨

Male breast cancer

Breast cancer in men is usually treated with mastectomy.

⚠️ Signs That May Need Evaluation

➤A painless lump in the breast or armpit
➤Change in breast size or shape
➤Dimpling or puckering of the skin
➤Inverted (pulled-in) nipple

➤Bloody nipple discharge
➤Redness or orange-peel skin
➤Swelling in the armpit
➤Breast wound that does not heal

💡 Not every breast cancer needs the whole breast removed. Many early cancers can be treated with breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) followed by radiotherapy, with the same survival as mastectomy. Large tumours may first be shrunk with chemotherapy. The choice is made with your surgeon after imaging and biopsy.

🔬 Tests Before Treatment

Test	Why it is done
Mammogram and breast ultrasound	Show the size and number of tumours in both breasts.
Core needle biopsy with ER/PR/HER2	Confirms cancer and its type, which decides chemotherapy and hormone treatment.
Breast MRI (selected cases)	Checks for more disease in the breast, useful in dense breasts or lobular cancer.
CT scan or PET-CT	Checks spread to lungs, liver or bones in larger tumours.
Blood tests, ECG and chest X-ray	Check fitness for anaesthesia.
BRCA genetic testing (if advised)	For young patients or strong family history.

🏥 The Procedure — Step by Step

Tumour board review

Surgeon, oncologist and radiologist agree the best treatment plan.

Admission

You are admitted on the day of surgery after fasting.

General anaesthesia

You are fully asleep during the operation.

Sentinel node mapping (if needed)

A dye or tracer finds the first lymph nodes the cancer would spread to.

Removing the breast

An oval cut is made around the nipple and the breast tissue is removed from the chest muscle.

Lymph node surgery

Sentinel nodes or the armpit lymph nodes are removed as planned.

Drains and closure

1–2 thin drains are placed and the skin is closed neatly.

Ward recovery

Pain control, early walking and arm exercises start the next day.

Discharge

Discharged on day 3, often with a drain and drain-care teaching.

⚖️ Types & Techniques

Technique	What is done	Best for
Modified radical mastectomy (MRM)	Whole breast + underarm lymph nodes; chest muscle kept	Cancer that has spread to armpit nodes
Total (simple) mastectomy + sentinel node biopsy	Whole breast + 1–3 sentinel nodes	Node-negative cancer, widespread DCIS
Skin-sparing / nipple-sparing mastectomy	Breast removed keeping skin or nipple for reconstruction	Selected early cancers, risk-reducing surgery
Mastectomy with immediate reconstruction	Implant or own-tissue (flap) breast rebuilt in same operation	Women wanting a new breast shape (extra cost)
Breast-conserving surgery (alternative)	Only the lump with a margin removed, followed by radiation	Small tumours in a suitable breast size

📊 The NSABP B-06 and Milan trials followed women for 20 years and showed that for suitable early cancers, lumpectomy with radiotherapy gives the same survival as mastectomy.

📅 Your Day-by-Day Plan in India

Day	What happens
Day 1	Arrival in India, airport pick-up and hotel check-in
Day 2–3	Consultation, review of biopsy and scans, pre-surgery tests
Day 4	Admission and mastectomy surgery
Day 5–6	Recovery in single room, arm exercises, drain care teaching; discharge
Day 7–11	Hotel rest, drain review, histopathology report
Day 12–13	Oncology consultation for chemotherapy / radiation / hormone plan; drain removal
Day 14	Fly home ✈️

🌱 Recovery After Treatment

🛏️

Day 1–3

Walk on the day after surgery; gentle arm exercises; discharge on day 3.

🩹

Week 1–2

Drain usually removed when fluid is low (about 7–14 days).

💪

Week 2–4

Gradual shoulder exercises to regain full arm movement.

💼

Week 3–4

Return to light work and most daily activities.

💉

Week 4–6

Chemotherapy or radiotherapy starts if advised.

👙

Week 6+

Fit a breast prosthesis (external form) or plan reconstruction.

🏆 Success Rate

Outcome	Result
5-year survival – stage I	Over 95%
5-year survival – stage II	About 90%
5-year survival – stage III	About 70–75%
Local recurrence after mastectomy	About 5–10% over 10 years
Lymphoedema after full axillary clearance	About 15–20%

Survival depends mostly on cancer stage, tumour type (ER/PR/HER2), lymph node involvement and completing the full plan of chemotherapy, radiation and hormone or targeted therapy after surgery.

🩹 Risks & Possible Complications

Mastectomy is a safe operation with a low risk of serious complications.

•Seroma (fluid collection under the skin) – common, about 15–30%, drained with a needle
•Arm swelling (lymphoedema) – about 15–20% after full axillary clearance, under 5–7% after sentinel node biopsy
•Numbness of the inner arm and chest wall
•Shoulder stiffness – improved with exercises
•Wound infection – about 5%
•Skin flap necrosis (poor healing of skin edges) – uncommon
•Bleeding (haematoma) – about 1–2%

💰 Cost of Mastectomy in India

The cost of mastectomy surgery in India starts from about USD 3,301. This package includes surgery, surgeon and anaesthesia fees, 3 days in a single room, histopathology of the removed tissue and routine medicines. Breast reconstruction, sentinel node mapping with special tracers, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are charged separately.

Option / Hospital tier	Approx. cost (USD)	Hospital stay	Notes
Mastectomy (MRM) – this package	3,301	3 days	Single room
Mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction	6,000 – 8,500	4–5 days	Implant cost included
Mastectomy with flap (own tissue) reconstruction	7,500 – 10,000	6–7 days	Longer surgery
Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy)	2,800 – 3,800	2–3 days	Radiotherapy needed afterwards

⚠️ Final cost depends on the type of mastectomy, lymph node surgery, reconstruction choice, room category and any extra days. Quotes are confirmed after the specialist examines the patient in India.

Mastectomy cost comparison India USA UK Turkey

📋 What the Package Includes

✅ Included

✔Mastectomy surgery with lymph node removal
✔Surgeon and anaesthesia fees
✔3 days in a single room
✔Operation theatre and consumables
✔Histopathology report with markers
✔Routine medicines and dressings
✔Meals for patient
✔Airport pick-up, visa letter and interpreter

❌ Not Included

✖Flights and visa fees
✖Hotel stay outside hospital
✖PET-CT, MRI and genetic tests
✖Chemotherapy and radiotherapy
✖Breast reconstruction or implants
✖Extra hospital days
✖External breast prosthesis
✖Blood products

✈️ Your Medical Travel Process with Satyug Healthcare

Medical travel journey to India for Mastectomy

Step	Details
1. Send reports	Mammogram and breast ultrasound reports, biopsy report with ER/PR/HER2 status, any CT/PET-CT or bone scan, and previous chemotherapy details if already started.
2. Free opinion & quotes	Within 48-72 hours you receive opinions and cost estimates from 3-5 leading hospitals to compare.
3. Choose hospital & doctor	We help you compare doctors, success rates, room options and total budget.
4. Medical visa	The hospital issues a Visa Invitation Letter (VIL) to the Indian Embassy. The patient and up to 2 attendants apply for an e-Medical / Medical Attendant visa.
5. Travel planning	Flight guidance, wheelchair assistance, airport pick-up, hotel or guest house near the hospital.
6. Treatment in India	Your coordinator and interpreter stay with you for admission, treatment, discharge and billing.
7. Return & follow-up	Fit-to-fly letter, medicines, and online follow-up with your doctor after you return home.

🎒 Travel Checklist

📌Valid passport (6+ months) for the patient and attendants, plus 10 passport-size photos each
📌Medical visa / e-visa and the hospital’s Visa Invitation Letter
📌All mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy, CT/PET scans on CD / link and prescriptions
📌Yellow fever vaccination certificate (mandatory for travellers from African countries)
📌Polio vaccination certificate where applicable
📌Declare cash above USD 5,000 at the airport; hospitals accept wire transfer and cards
📌Foreigners staying longer than permitted must register with the FRRO — our team assists

⭐ Why Choose Satyug Healthcare?

🏥

Top Accredited Hospitals

Our partner cancer centres include Max Super Speciality Hospital Saket, Medanta – The Medicity, Fortis Memorial Research Institute Gurugram, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute Delhi, Indraprastha Apollo, BLK-Max Cancer Centre, Artemis and Kokilaben Hospital Mumbai.

👨‍⚕️

Senior Specialists

Surgeries are done by senior surgical and breast oncologists who work with medical and radiation oncologists in a joint tumour board.

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Transparent Pricing

Multiple written quotes to compare — no hidden charges, no extra fee for our service.

🤝

End-to-End Support

Visa, airport pick-up, accommodation, interpreter and 24/7 coordinator.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

➤ How much does a mastectomy cost in India?

Mastectomy starts from about USD 3,301 at our partner hospitals. This includes surgery, 3 days in a single room and the biopsy report. Reconstruction, chemotherapy and radiotherapy cost extra.

➤ How long will I stay in hospital?

The package includes 3 days in hospital. You may go home with a drain, which is removed in clinic.

➤ How long should I stay in India?

Plan for about 2 weeks for surgery, drain removal and the final biopsy report. Longer if you also take chemotherapy or radiotherapy in India.

➤ Do I need a mastectomy or can I keep my breast?

Many early cancers can be treated with lumpectomy and radiotherapy with equal survival. Your surgeon will advise after reviewing your scans and biopsy.

➤ Is the surgery painful?

Pain after mastectomy is usually mild to moderate and controlled with tablets. Most patients walk the next day.

➤ Can I have breast reconstruction?

Yes. Reconstruction with an implant or your own tissue can be done at the same time or later. It is a separate package.

➤ Will I need chemotherapy or radiotherapy?

It depends on the tumour size, lymph nodes and receptor type. The oncology team decides after the final biopsy report.

➤ What is lymphoedema?

It is swelling of the arm after lymph nodes are removed. It happens in about 15–20% after full node clearance and is reduced with exercises and arm care.

➤ When can I return to work?

Most women return to light work in 3–4 weeks, unless chemotherapy is planned.

➤ Is mastectomy done for men?

Yes. Breast cancer in men is usually treated with mastectomy and lymph node surgery.

➤ Can a family member come with me?

Yes, one or two attendants can come. We provide visa invitation letters for the patient and attendants.

➤ What reports should I send?

Send your mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy report with ER/PR/HER2, and any CT or PET-CT scans for a free opinion.

➤ What follow-up is needed after I go home?

Check-ups every 3–6 months for 2–3 years, then yearly, with a yearly mammogram of the other breast. Our team arranges video follow-ups.

➤ What if I do not speak English?

Satyug Healthcare provides interpreters for Arabic, French, Russian, Swahili and other languages at no extra cost.

💬 Get a Free Opinion & Cost Estimate

Send your medical reports today and receive opinions from India’s top specialists within 48-72 hours.

📞 +91-8860606766 | +91-9910655125 | ✉️ query@satyughealthcare.com

Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information and does not replace a consultation with a qualified specialist. Treatment plans and costs are confirmed only after the patient is examined. Sources: NCBI StatPearls: Modified Radical Mastectomy; NHS: Mastectomy; Mayo Clinic: Mastectomy; NCCN Breast Cancer Guidelines; American Cancer Society survival statistics; NSABP B-06 trial (NEJM 2002); Veronesi Milan trial (NEJM 2002). Infographics: Satyug Healthcare.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a radical mastectomy and a modified radical mastectomy?

A simple mastectomy (left) removes the breast tissue, nipple, areola and skin but not all the lymph nodes. A modified radical mastectomy (right) removes the entire breast — including the breast tissue, skin, areola and nipple — and most of the underarm (axillary) lymph nodes.