Cancer Treatment in Thailand: What You Need To Know

As one of the world’s leading medical tourism destinations, Thailand welcomes millions of visitors each year who undergo medical procedures at the country’s state-of-the-art private hospitals.

Why choose Thailand for cancer treatment?

Tourists come to Thailand for everything from complicated surgeries to cosmetic enhancements, and thousands each year are treated for cancer.

Here are some of the things that make it such a popular destination:

• Affordability – Western and Middle-Eastern medical tourists are often surprised to find that in Thailand the highest quality medical treatments are available at substantially lower prices than in their home countries.
• The latest technology – Private hospitals in Thailand typically have the latest technology and equipment on hand. This goes for large general hospitals as well as specialist cancer hospitals such as Chiwamitra Hospital.
• Renowned oncologists – Oncologists in Thailand are highly qualified and have earned a reputation for their expertise. Generally, they possess international accreditation and are often leaders in oncological research.
• Excellent care – Thailand’s medical professionals pride themselves on delivering warm, friendly and respectful care.

What types of cancer treatment are available in Thailand?

These are some of the cancer treatment options on offer at hospitals in Thailand:

• Surgery: This involves having your cancer treated through the direct removal of tumours from the body. Surgery is often performed by a team of specialists and is in some cases assisted by cutting-edge robotics. The surgeons in many Thai hospitals are highly experienced and extremely competent.
• Chemotherapy: This is the use of drugs to eliminate cancer cells and stop tumours from growing. In most cases, it is provided intravenously and it often causes side effects, although it is effective.
• Radiation therapy: This involves destroying cancer cells while sparing healthy cells through carefully targeted doses of radiation. Generally, radiotherapy results in fewer and less severe side effects than chemotherapy.
• Immunotherapy: This attempts to stimulate the body’s immune system to seek out and destroy cancer cells. Sometimes, the immune system cannot do this on its own because it cannot differentiate between cancer cells and healthy cells, or its response is not strong enough to eliminate them.

Depending on your condition, you might need one or a combination of different therapies. The best approach for you should be decided in consultation with your oncologist.

Is patient care in Thailand good?

It is certainly true that Thailand has become a go-to destination for medical care, but other destinations are available. So, it is worth breaking down why Thailand has been comparatively successful in this industry.

• Individualized care: Cancer care in Thailand takes into account the unique conditions of each patient’s health as well as their preferences, where possible, to create a personalized plan for each individual. Tour operators are available to arrange transport and other travel essentials.
• Comprehensive treatment – Of your journey from diagnosis to recovery, as much or as little as you like can take place in Thailand.
• Beautiful surroundings – Another reason for Thailand’s popularity as a medical tourism destination is the scenery. Year-round warmth and proximity to stunning beaches make it an excellent environment for treatment and recovery.

Hopefully, this short guide has outlined Thailand’s strengths as a cancer treatment destination. Use it to help make an informed choice about where to get the best care for you.