Incidence of cancer, the black death of our age, gradually increases both in Turkey and around the world. Two hundred thousand subjects are newly diagnosed as cancer per year in our country. Considering diagnosis and treatment, technologies and experienced specialists of modern medicine are offered to the service of our society.
Cancer therapy is comprised of a group of therapies which necessitates operation of multiple medical branches in cooperation. Here, various surgical branches work in cooperation with Radiation Oncologists and Medical Oncologists. Pathology is of importance during diagnosis, while Radiology and Nuclear Medicine departments are of value to support diagnosis and monitor treatment outcomes.
In most cancer patients, primary therapy is surgical extraction of tumor mass. This intervention not only enables diagnosis of the disease, but it also finalizes diagnosis. Based on location and involved organ, different surgical branches undertake responsibility; primary intervention is made by surgical branches including general surgery, orthopedics, Otorhinolaryngology, gynecology or pulmonary surgery, ophthalmology and urology. Post-operative therapy is maintained by medical oncology and radiation oncology departments.
Medical oncology refers to branch of science which offers pharmaceutical therapy (drug therapy) for cancer. Medical oncology cures cancer patient using anti-cancer drugs (chemotherapy) on one side and tries to eliminate internal problems (infections, renal failures, heart failures, nutritional disorders etc.) on the other side.
Radiation oncology works with devices which use X-ray. Radiation oncology procedures not only performed for eliminating cancerous cells, but they are also performed to demolish cancer by directly radiating tumor in patients who are not eligible for operation.
Advanced modern medical technologies
In current Radiation Oncology, early identification (before cancerous tissue comprised of abnormally growing cells reaches a particular size) and direct treatment of involved tissue are possible thanks to the advanced technological devices.
Using these devices, it is possible to
- treat tumors localized in breast, head and neck and lung,
- treat deep and superficial tumors located in other organs.
Moreover, thanks to the devices accurately identifying involved tissue, high-level success is ensured in
- Baseline diagnosis and grading of cancer,
- determination of extent,
- Evaluation of response to treatment
- Determination of viable cancer cell load for planning cancer therapy,
- Planning best possible therapy for the patient,
- Ease of use in all cancer patient and ensuring highest level of patient’s comfort.