Cancer treatment in Turkey

Turkey’s leading professional medical care staff has several options to use while fighting the different types of cancer they encounter in patients. Thanks to the opportunities available in the country, Turkish hospitals maintain their policy of competitive prices in their field and guarantee the diagnosis, treatment and care processes of the disease with its state-of-the-art technology treatment centres located in central locations that are easy to access.

Content

• The first step towards effective treatment: Radiological diagnostic methods for Cancer treatment in Turkey
• PET/CT for Cancer treatment in Turkey
• Medical Oncology in Cancer treatment in Turkey
• Types of treatments used in medical oncology
• Radiation oncology in Cancer treatment in Turkey
• Areas of application of radiotherapy in Cancer treatment in Turkey
• Surgical treatment without scalpel and blood using rays: Radiosurgery
• Surgical oncology in Cancer treatment in Turkey
• Fields of application of surgical treatments
• Robotic surgery with “Da Vinci” in Cancer treatment in Turkey

The first step towards effective treatment: Radiological diagnostic methods for Cancer treatment in Turkey

An accurate radiological diagnosis is essential in deciding how the treatment should be carried out. Modern techniques and advanced technologies are of paramount importance when carrying out a radiological diagnosis and experienced radiology staff.

In addition to qualified radiological personnel, techniques applied with state-of-the-art technology must be used for accurate diagnosis. In Turkey, hospitals work according to this principle and closely follow the developments of medical science, constantly changing the diagnostic equipment in all our hospitals and outpatient centres with new high-tech equipment.

PET/CT used for Cancer treatment in Turkey

For rapid and reliable diagnosis: PET/CT is used to identify tumours at an early stage, especially for cancer treatment, and to determine whether these tumours are malignant or benign. The device is also used to diagnose and treat neurological and cardiological disorders.

Medical Oncology in Cancer treatment in Turkey

Medical oncology is the branch of science that covers the treatment of cancer patients and cancer protection, screening, and early diagnosis techniques.

In addition, there is cooperation between different branches such as surgery and radiology in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The study of each case is planned via a multidisciplinary approach following the scientific data.

In medical oncology, treatment planning is based on:

• The type of cancer cell,
• The organ where it first appeared
• The areas where it has spread.

Types of treatments used in medical oncology

Chemotherapy (drug therapy): Chemotherapy aims to destroy cancer cells that grow uncontrollably due to specific changes in their structures. Turkey’s Oncology Centers apply the latest procedures in this field to treat our patients.

Hormone therapy: Hormonal drugs are used to treat hormone-sensitive tumours, such as prostate cancer and breast cancer.

Immunotherapy (treatment with the immune system): Substances that the immune system naturally produces are used to identify and eliminate cancer cells by alerting the body’s immune system.

Targeted biological therapy: The development of highly effective biological therapies has been one of the most critical developments in cancer treatment in the last decade . This treatment has relatively few side effects and identifies targets present in cancer cells but not in normal cells.

Radiation oncology in Cancer treatment in Turkey

The discipline of Radiation oncology examines, through the use of ionising radiation, the effects of radiation on cancer and the behaviour of tumours and covers research in this area. Radiation oncology has two fields of application: radiotherapy and radiosurgery.

Radiation therapy (X-ray therapy)

Radiation therapy is defined as treating cancerous tissue or certain non-malignant tumours with radiation. It also colloquially refers to as “radiation therapy” or “X-ray therapy.” The beams used in radiation therapy aim to stop the growth of cancer cells or eliminate them.

Areas of application of radiotherapy in Cancer treatment in Turkey

Curative Radiotherapy: In light of the available information about the disease, it is applied in cases where the disease can be treated entirely. It can be used alone or combined with surgery and/or chemotherapy.

Palliative radiation therapy: It is applied in cases where it is impossible to eradicate cancer. The aim is to prevent and alleviate suffering and improve the quality of life of people facing this severe and complex disease.

Surgical treatment without scalpel and blood using rays: Radiosurgery

The fundamental goal of radiosurgery, one of the fields of application of radiation oncology, is to direct many low-energy beams to the diseased area. The goal is to reduce or eliminate cancer cells using intense beams while protecting surrounding healthy tissue from the harmful effects of radiation.

Surgical oncology in Cancer treatment in Turkey

Fields of application of surgical treatments

Curative surgery is also applied as part of surgical oncology. However, the prerequisite for the application of curative surgery is that the disease is limited to the organ or lymph nodes where it appeared. Tumours can be completely removed from patients, provided that their boundaries are well determined. However, there are cases when the tumour cannot be completely eliminated. In these cases, surgery to reduce the size of the tumour may be considered. In addition, the removal of a few metastases improves the patient’s chances of recovery.

Robotic surgery with “Da Vinci” in Cancer treatment in Turkey

Laparoscopic operations performed with the surgical robot “Da Vinci” are defined as robotic surgery. These operations have many benefits for the patient. In addition to the benefits common to all laparoscopic operations, such as reduced pain, reduced scarring on the skin, and shorter hospital stay, minor bleeding and the success rate of the operation is higher. “da Vinci” robotic surgery is practised in particular in the following areas: gynaecology, gynaecological oncology, urology, cardiac and vascular surgery, general surgery and ear, nose and throat surgery.

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