From Jordan to Advanced Interventional Oncology in Germany: TACE for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
When Haya first heard the words “metastatic pancreatic cancer,” everything around her seemed to slow down. That was an advanced pancreatic tumor with liver metastases. Back home in Jordan, she focused on the next clear step: starting systemic chemotherapy. She attended appointments, learned the rhythm of treatment days, and tried to keep life moving in small, familiar ways.
Chemotherapy became part of her routine, but so did the questions that often come with a complex diagnosis. The scans showed disease involvement beyond the pancreas, including lesions in the liver. She was already doing what was medically recommended, yet she kept thinking: Is there anything else that can be added to make this stronger?
Looking for More Options
Haya wasn’t searching for a dramatic alternative. She wanted a thoughtful addition to what she was already doing. Her oncology care had begun with systemic chemotherapy, but she had read and heard that interventional oncology can sometimes complement systemic treatment by targeting tumors more directly.
That’s how she came across transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). The idea made sense to her in plain terms: keep chemotherapy working through the bloodstream, and add a localized treatment aimed at the liver lesions (and, where appropriate, pancreatic lesions) to potentially intensify the attack on the tumors.
The goal was simple and realistic. She wanted to increase effectiveness by combining approaches rather than replacing one with the other.
Medical Visa & Travel
Choosing treatment abroad isn’t only a medical decision. It’s also paperwork, timing, stress, and logistics. The patient needed a medical visa, and that became the first hurdle to clear. With her documentation prepared and the timeline coordinated, she set her sights on Germany. This additional service was provided by a medical travel agency on the Airomedical platform, along with the provider matching.
The plan was for her to be evaluated and treated at University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, a center known for advanced interventional radiology and oncology procedures.
When she learned she would be treated under Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Vogl, it gave the journey a sense of direction. It wasn’t just “going abroad.” It was going somewhere specific, for a clear approach, with a specialist who does this work every day.
More About TACE for Haya
In Frankfurt, Haya’s first days were about careful assessment rather than rushing into treatment. Her medical history was reviewed, including the fact that she was already receiving systemic chemotherapy. Imaging and reports helped the team understand where the disease was active and whether TACE could be safely and meaningfully added.
For the patient, the most reassuring part was understanding the logic. Systemic chemotherapy works broadly. TACE works locally. Together, they can form a “two-level” approach - one treating the whole body, the other focusing on the areas that need extra pressure.
Haya found comfort in having a clear next-step plan. She wasn’t leaving Frankfurt with vague advice. She was leaving with a structure: what to monitor, when follow-up imaging should occur, and how her doctors back home could remain aligned with what was done in Germany.
Going Home With More Than Memories
When Haya returned to Jordan, she carried more than just her suitcase; she brought back a renewed sense of agency. She actively engaged in developing a treatment plan that she considered comprehensive.
She understood that the path ahead would still involve chemotherapy and follow-up appointments. However, emotionally, something had shifted. She no longer felt as though she were merely reacting to bad news. Instead, she felt empowered, having expanded her options in a careful and evidence-based manner by incorporating pancreatic cancer treatment in Germany into her ongoing care.