Oncological Treatments

Cancer treatments are jointly planned by surgeons, radiation oncology, and medical oncology specialists, tailored to the type and stage of the disease. The main treatment methods are surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Often, these treatments are applied together. Other options include immunotherapy, targeted therapies (smart drugs), hormone therapy, bone marrow transplantation, etc. These treatments can be effectively applied at various stages of the disease.

Surgical Treatments

The aim of surgery is to achieve a cure by completely removing cancer cells. In advanced stages, limited operations can also be performed to reduce the tumor mass. In some cases, preoperative radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy are used to shrink the tumor volume, making the surgery easier and more successful. Depending on the type of disease, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be applied simultaneously with or after surgery.

Radiotherapy

This treatment method uses X-rays and radioactive particle beams applied to the tumorous tissue to break down and kill cancer cells. In some cases, it is used alone, and in others, it is used in conjunction with surgery and chemotherapy. In advanced cases, it is very effective in the palliative pain treatment of bones and other organs, and in resolving certain neurological problems. You can find more detailed medical and technical information about radiotherapy at this link.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the treatment of killing tumor cells with cancer drugs. It is usually administered intravenously in serum or taken orally in pill form. It can be applied as a single drug or in combination with multiple drugs. It is very effective in drug-sensitive cell types. Initially, it is usually applied for curative purposes. In the later stages of treatment, drugs used for palliative purposes help improve the patient's quality of life.

Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy is used in cancer types such as prostate, breast, and ovarian cancer that grow with hormone support. In the treatment of these diseases, hormone-producing organs are surgically removed, or drugs that block the effect of hormones are used. Thus, by eliminating hormone support, the development of tumor tissue is prevented.

Immunotherapy

The immune system protects our body against cancer and various microorganisms. If the immune system weakens and cancer cells evade the protection system by hiding themselves, cancer easily multiplies and spreads. Immunotherapy inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells by strengthening the immune system. It is usually used in advanced cases together with other treatments or in cases of recurrent disease.

Targeted Therapies

Cancer cells produce some abnormal proteins through mutations in their genetic structures. They develop and multiply thanks to these proteins. In patients with certain specific mutation types, tumor development can be stopped and treatment can be provided with specially developed drugs targeting the relevant genes.

Apart from these, some treatment methods whose effectiveness has not been fully proven may also be used.