Oncology Hospitals in Turkey

What is Oncology?

Oncology is the branch of medicine dedicated to the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer. Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific part of the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably, potentially spreading to other areas of the body. Oncologists are the doctors who specialize in treating patients with cancer. They use a variety of methods to treat cancer, aiming to eliminate the cancer cells, slow down their growth, or relieve symptoms associated with the disease. The field of oncology covers a wide range of treatments and research, looking into the causes of cancer and developing new ways to fight it. This includes everything from chemotherapy, which uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells, to more targeted therapies that aim to attack specific types of cancer cells with fewer side effects. Oncology also involves caring for the patient’s emotional and physical well-being throughout their journey with cancer, from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.

Types of Oncologists

An oncologist is a medically trained specialist focused on the precise diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of cancer. Integral to a multidisciplinary team, oncologists provide essential support to patients by fostering collaboration and coordination among various specialists.

Certain oncologists further specialize in specific modalities of cancer treatment, ensuring expertise and proficiency in their chosen field.

The different types of oncologists include:

1. Medical oncologist: A medical oncologist treats cancer using chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy.
2. Surgical oncologist: A surgical oncologist removes the tumor or cancerous tissue with an operation.
3. Radiation oncologist: A radiation oncologist specializes in treating cancer using radiotherapy.

Common Treatments Offered at Oncology Hospital

Oncology hospitals are equipped to offer a wide range of treatments for cancer, each tailored to meet the specific needs of individual patients. These treatments include:

• Biomarker Testing for Cancer Treatment: Utilizing tests to identify genetic markers in cancer cells that can help determine the most effective treatment plan.
• Chemotherapy: Using drugs to kill cancer cells or slow their growth, often used to treat a wide variety of cancers.
• Hormone Therapy: Targeting cancers that are influenced by hormones, such as breast and prostate cancer, by blocking the body’s ability to produce certain hormones or interfering with hormone action.
• Hyperthermia: Applying heat to cancer cells to damage and kill them, sometimes used in conjunction with other cancer treatments.
• Immunotherapy: Boosting the body’s natural defenses to fight the cancer, using substances made by the body or in a laboratory to improve or restore immune system function.
• Photodynamic Therapy for Cancer: Combining a drug (a photosensitizer) with a specific type of light to kill cancer cells, used for treating certain types of cancer.
• Radiation Therapy: Using high-energy particles or waves, such as X-rays, gamma rays, electron beams, or protons, to destroy or damage cancer cells.
• Stem Cell Transplant: Replacing diseased or damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells, often used in the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma.
• Surgery: Physically removing cancer from the body, often the first line of treatment for many types of cancer.
• Targeted Therapy: Using drugs or other substances to precisely identify and attack cancer cells, usually while doing little damage to normal cells.

Each of these treatments offers a specialized approach to combat cancer, providing hope and improved outcomes for patients battling this disease.

Services Provided by Oncology Hospital

Oncology is the branch of medicine that deals with cancer. Oncologists are medical professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients. Their treatment processes include:

• Confirming a patient’s initial diagnosis to ensure accuracy.
• Explaining the specifics of the cancer diagnosis and its stage to the patient.
• Providing guidance by offering detailed treatment plans tailored to the patient’s condition.
• Overseeing the entire course of treatment to ensure it’s proceeding as planned.
• Assisting patients in managing the side effects and symptoms associated with the disease and its treatment.

These services play a crucial role in the fight against cancer, designed to support patients both physically and emotionally. Each step involves close collaboration between the patient and doctor, adopting a personalized approach based on the patient’s unique needs.

What to Expect from the Oncologist?

The initial encounter with an oncologist includes a consultation, where the primary objective is to ascertain the presence or absence of cancer, determine its location if present, establish a precise diagnosis, and provide you with optimal resources for managing the condition effectively.

During this appointment, the oncologist will conduct a thorough physical examination and ask about your medical and family history. It is essential to bring all available medical records, including a comprehensive list of medications or supplements you may be taking.

The oncologist will meticulously review any existing scans and tests, conducting additional tests as deemed necessary. This typically involves an analysis of blood, urine, and other bodily fluids for abnormal levels of substances indicative of potential cancer or blood disorders. Visual imaging tests such as CT scans, MRIs, PET scans, or ultrasound exams may also be employed.

In cases where cancer is suspected, the oncologist typically performs a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Different biopsy methods are employed depending on the area under consideration, with the collected tissue sample examined by the oncologist’s team, including a pathologist, to determine the presence of cancer cells.

Reasons to See an Oncologist

A person should visit an oncology hospital if they want the opinion of an expert in a specific field or suspect of having cancer.

Unusual Growth or Lump

Physician practices typically lack the resources for diagnosing cancerous tumors, necessitating a referral to an oncologist hospital for comprehensive testing. While the majority of suspected tumors prove to be benign, this referral serves several essential purposes:

• Provide reassurance: Confirming a negative test result ensures peace of mind.
• Exclude cancer as a cause: The referral helps rule out cancer as a potential underlying factor for any symptoms you may be experiencing.
• Early detection: Identifying potentially malignant tumors at an early stage increases the likelihood of successful treatment.
• Facilitate optimal care: In the event of a positive test result, the referral ensures prompt and directed care under the guidance of specialized oncologists.

Provide Cancer Treatment

In the event of a confirmed cancer diagnosis, a referral will be made to an oncologist who will meticulously assess your case on an individual basis. The oncologist will provide a thorough explanation of all available treatment options and offer their professional recommendation.

Tailored to the specific characteristics of the cancer, its stage, and potential health considerations, the treatment plan may encompass:

• Radiation therapy: Employed to impede the growth of a tumor without causing harm to surrounding healthy tissue.
• Surgical intervention: Physical removal of the tumor through surgical procedures.
• Targeted therapy: Designed to restrict the tumor’s spread to other regions of the body.
• Chemotherapy: Treatment involving the destruction of cancer cells.

Diagnose and Treat Blood Disorders

Many oncologists have expertise in hematology, focusing on the study and treatment of blood-related diseases.

If a person exhibits symptoms indicative of conditions such as anemia, sickle cell disease, or thrombosis, they should visit an oncology hospital and see a hematology-certified oncologist for specialized care.

Those symptoms may include manifestations such as brittle nails, a swollen tongue, an enlarged spleen, heart-related issues, fatigue, frequent infections, swollen hands and feet, vision problems, or severe episodes of pain.

When to Visit an Oncology Hospital?

In case of a cancer diagnosis or suspicion, the patient must visit an oncology hospital. Following the retrieval of a biopsy (tissue sample) for examination by a pathologist, a thorough series of diagnostic tests and scans will be conducted to assess the size and potential spread of the cancer. Oncologists collaborate as a cohesive team to formulate personalized treatment recommendations for individual patients.

Patients have the option to seek a second opinion from alternative medical professionals or teams at any stage of their care. They may be referred to other specialists, and they can request the transfer of their medical history to the physician providing the second opinion.