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Oncology (Cancer Treatment) Worldwide: Best Hospitals, Doctors, Options, & Cost

A cancer diagnosis is a considerable challenge and can change anything. Leaving home and looking for cancer treatments abroad can be an additional adversity.

We discuss looking for the "right" medical center and an oncologist, comparing prices, shorting waiting times, and choosing the best available cancer treatment option for you. At the same time, we are concerned about the additional difficulties that international patients face and help to avoid them.

Looking for the right hospital abroad on our platform is easy and convenient. You can apply for treatment at multiple clinics at once. Careful planning and coordination with our support system make looking for a hospital for cancer treatments abroad more accessible and comfortable.

Update: Mar 18, 2024

Best oncology clinics worldwide

How to find the right cancer treatment center?

When selecting a clinic for oncology treatment, choosing an institution that stays current with the latest advancements is crucial. Cancer treatment technologies are rapidly advancing, with even rare forms of oncology, such as lung or pancreatic cancer, now treatable. Therefore, it's essential to consider the hospital's specialization and level of care when choosing a treatment facility.

It's crucial to research the doctor's qualifications, including their experience treating your specific diagnosis and their treatment methods. While hospital certificates and awards are less important, selecting a hospital that meets oncological care standards is vital.

If you're choosing a medical center, you must check the treatment options available to ensure early detection and treatment of tumors. It's also helpful to gather information about the quality of service, patient focus, and psychological support offered by the clinic to find the best fit for you.

Top doctors for cancer treatment worldwide

Prof. Dr. med. Tho­mas J. Vogl
Excellent
AiroScore
9.90
Dr. med. Holger Heidenreich
Excellent
AiroScore
9.20
Dr. med. Anett Tillmann, MBA
Excellent
AiroScore
9.20
Prof. Dr. med. Markus Braun-Falco
Excellent
AiroScore
9.70
dermatology-centre-prof-braun-falco-munich
dermatology, aesthetic dermatology and oncodermatology
Prof. Dr. med. Roland Ladurner
Excellent
AiroScore
9.70
academic-hospital-munich
general, abdominal, thoracic, endocrine, vascular and minimally invasive surgery
Dr. med. Nathan Kaminski
Excellent
AiroScore
9.70
Prof. Dr. med. Stefan Hinterwimmer
Excellent
AiroScore
9.70
atos-orthopaedic-clinic-munich
knee orthopaedic surgery, orthopaedics and trauma surgery

What helps to select the right cancer doctor?

When searching for a famous cancer doctor, cancer patients often seek recommendations from others who have undergone treatment. But when evaluating an oncologist's work, relying on something other than strangers' feedback is essential.

Important factors include specialization, experience, qualifications, reviews, number of operations (for oncology surgeons), success rates, and personal qualities, such as empathy. To determine if a doctor meets these standards, scheduling an initial in-person or online consultation is recommended. It is crucial to note that medical oncologists must possess exceptional diagnostic skills. Mistakes in cancer treatment can have irreversible consequences, which is why the doctor must prescribe necessary tests before determining appropriate procedures and medications.

The best cancer doctors in the world and other specialists have personal profiles on our platform. Plus, you can easily schedule an appointment with a doctor without leaving your home's comfort. Trust AiroMedical to help you find the care you need.

Modern cancer diagnosis

Diagnosis for cancer in another country refers to seeking medical evaluation and testing for cancer outside one's home country. Some people choose to receive a cancer diagnosis abroad for various reasons. Among them is access to specialized medical care. Shorter wait times for diagnostic testing and an opportunity to lower the level of care oncology clinic costs are also motivations.

Why do patients consider medical travel for diagnosis?

There may be additional reasons to consider when looking for a cancer diagnosis overseas. Take, for instance:

Knowledge
Certain medical facilities in other countries may have more specialized expertise in identifying specific kinds of cancer. They are beneficial in rare or difficult situations.
Access to more sophisticated diagnostic technologies
There is a possibility that some medical facilities in foreign clinics can access more advanced cancer diagnostic technologies. For example, in the hospital, it may be specialized imaging equipment or biopsy methods, which are not widely available in the home country.
Second opinion service
People concerned about a prior diagnosis' accuracy may seek a cancer diagnosis in another country. It helps to acquire a second opinion from a different medical team.

Treatment success depends on how quickly and accurately a diagnosis is made. The tumor's location, spread, and the patient's genetic vulnerabilities to non-surgical treatments determine the best action for an effective therapy that minimizes the impact on the patient's quality of life.

Making a mistake can have severe consequences as a malignant tumor can transition from the first stage to the fourth, where cancer spreads to other body parts in just a few weeks.

Latest cancer screening options

Positron emission tomography (PET) scans
The examination recognizes changes in the body at the cellular level. It detects even those tumors just beginning their development and is not visualized by other studies. This method uses radiopharmaceuticals that collect in tissues, allowing for a clear depiction of examined organs and identification of normal and tumor processes.
Newer imaging studies
During surgical operations, the fluorescence imaging method can increase tumor removal accuracy. This method injects fluorescent molecules into the tumor tissue, causing it to glow. It makes it easier for surgeons to identify and remove the tumor's edges quickly without waiting for resection edge examination results.
Accurate imaging-guided biopsies
A needle is inserted into the neoplasm, and the correct position of its tip is monitored using CT. The doctor can choose the place of needle insertion, angle, and penetration depth with an accuracy of up to a millimeter. It eliminates any risks of damaging blood vessels, nerves, or other structures, making the procedure safe. After diagnosis, patients can usually return to their routine without delay.
Real-time liquid biopsies
The method is based on DNA analysis of tumor cells freely circulating in the blood. It is based on the search for mutations in DNA. It allows for monitoring the progression of the disease after tumor removal and evaluating the therapy's effectiveness. There is no risk of complications associated with a classical biopsy. You can just come to the clinic, donate blood, and immediately return home.
Cytogenetics
Genetic cancer tests help identify hereditary (inherited from parents) and somatic (arising during life) mutations associated with oncology. It is possible to detect specifically defined mutations or analyze the entire DNA sequence, which detects up to 85% or more genetic disorders contributing to malignant tumors' development.
Molecular diagnostic methods
Analysis of the patient's tumor and the formation of an individual list of potential target molecules. It helps to choose an effective drug therapy, determine the presence of an oncological predisposition and adjust treatment.

Third-world medicine is plagued by inaccurate diagnostics, which is not the case in the best clinics abroad. A correct diagnosis is crucial in determining a tumor's type, size, and location and deciding which treatment strategy will be effective with minimal risks.

AiroMedical provides reliable and comprehensive assistance in the field of oncology to achieve the best possible results.

Advanced treatment solutions in oncology

They refer to state-of-the-art technologies, therapies, and approaches to treating neoplasms. Oncology treatment options may include targeted therapies, immunotherapies, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, less-invasive surgery, and other cancer treatments abroad.

They are designed to kill or control the growth of cancer cells and, at the same time, have fewer impacts on healthy tissue.

Latest cancer treatment approaches

CAR-T cell and TIL therapy
It isa kind of immunotherapy that involves modifying a person's immune cells to attack cancer cells. For example, CAR T cell therapy is nowadays used for many malignant tumors and shows up to 98% response rate (effectiveness) for certain diseases.
Stereotactic body radiation therapy
Widely used in oncology, highly targeted radiation therapy delivers a high radiation dose to a specific body area.
Dendritic cancer vaccines
To "wake up" the immunity against cancer, scientists have developed a method for making an individual cancer vaccine: the patient's blood cells are "introduced" to tumor antigens and returned to the body, triggering the process of tumor self-destruction.
Tumor ablations
The term is a direct thermal or chemical effect on cancer to destroy it. The procedure is carried out under imaging control. Chemical ablation is carried out with ethyl alcohol, acetic acid, and other agents; thermal ablation is carried out in cold (cryoablation) or thermal exposure. Among the most modern types is NanoKnife ablation.
Latest radiosurgery machines
CyberKnife and Gamma Knife are robotic systems that use high-energy X-rays to deliver precise doses of radiation to cancer. It causes the tumor cells to break down and be naturally eliminated by the body, allowing the term "surgery" to describe the method. The surrounding tissues remain undamaged as the high radiation dose is concentrated only at the points where the radiosurgery beams intersect.
Proton beam therapy
A type of radiation therapy that uses protons, rather than X-rays, to deliver a high dose of radiation to a tumor. The machine helps to send more powerful waves compared to other radiations. Proton therapy is considered more effective, especially for pediatric oncology.
Photodynamic therapy
An oncology treatment that uses a photosensitizing agent and a light source to kill malignant cells. It’s widely used for skin cancer and is being introduced to many other types as an alternative method.
Cryosurgery for malignant tumors
The treatment destroys the skin's cancer cells by freezing them with liquid nitrogen. Under the influence of ultra-low temperatures, inter- and intracellular fluid freezes, many ice crystals are formed, and pathological tissues are destroyed.

These are a few examples of oncology's advanced solutions. It's important to note that the most appropriate cancer treatment abroad for a particular person will depend on many factors. They include the type and stage of cancer, the person's overall health and medical history, and other considerations, such as a particular hospital or medical center.

More examples of innovative ways to treat cancer

Molecularly targeted therapies
There are drugs taken after genetic changes or other abnormalities that cause cancer cells to grow and spread. They can be used alone or with other oncology treatments. Examples of such therapy are drugs that stop the action of specific proteins or enzymes that help cancer cells grow and stay alive. So are drugs that block the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow and spread.
Immunotherapies
Oncology treatments help the body's immune system find and destroy cancer cells. They can include monoclonal antibodies, proteins made to bind to specific targets on cancer cells. Checkpoint inhibitors and other methods are used to stop the immune system from preventing cancer cells from being attacked.
Robotic surgery
It is widely used in oncology, where a robotic system helps the surgeon do the work. The surgeon sits at a console and moves robotic "arms" with tools like scalpels, forceps, and scissors, with controls that look like joysticks. Robotic surgery can operate on cancer, benign tumors, and other tissue types. That is widely used for prostate gland removal but not limited to urology.
HIPEC and PIPAC surgeries
Chemotherapy drugs are injected directly into the abdominal cavity, where the tumor is located. HIPEC consists of maximum surgical reduction of cancer and washing of the abdominal cavity with hot chemotherapy at about 42 ° C during surgery. PIPAC is a method in which chemotherapy drugs are injected into the abdominal cavity as an aerosol under pressure. Unlike HIPEC, this therapy is performed through laparoscopic access without the stage of surgical tumor removal.

In addition, doctors offer hyperthermic intrathoracic surgery (HITHOC) that world on the same principles but for the chest.

Brachytherapy
It is a type of radiation therapy in oncology that involves putting a small radioactive source right into or near a tumor. It can be used to treat different kinds of cancers like prostate, breast, and gynecological cancers. Brachytherapy can be done in several ways, such as with temporary or permanent implants.
Radioembolization and chemoembolization
Both methods aim to close the blood vessels that feed large tumors by injecting a substance through a catheter. The difference lies in the type of drug used. Chemoembolization uses high-dose chemotherapy particles inside the cancer, while radioembolization uses a short-acting radioactive substance inside the tumor.

Advantages of medical travel

It refers to people traveling to other countries to receive oncology medical care. There are a few potential pros to seeking a foreign hospital for cancer treatment:

Benefits of medical tourism for oncology

Availability of treatment
In some cases, a particular type of oncology treatment may not be available in a person's home country but may be offered in another country.
Quality of care
Some people believe that cancer therapy may improve at oncology clinics in other countries. Thanks to evidence-based medicine, many developed countries show significantly higher survival rates for oncology patients. That attracts patients to explore better medical services.
Cost
Cancer therapy can be costly, and medical tourism in oncology may offer a more affordable option in the hospital abroad.
Other treatment protocols in different regions
Various effective treatment protocols are available for different cancer types, but the oncologist must determine the most suitable one for an individual patient. Each patient is unique because his tumor cells may respond differently to various drugs. Therefore patients might access treatment types and options not yet available in their home countries.
Reduced waiting times
Some countries may have long waiting times to see specialists or receive specific treatments. Going to a hospital abroad for oncology care may allow a person to receive results more quickly.

Trusted medical travel companies provide high-quality medical care in oncology. They consider the overall price of the oncology treatment, including any travel and accommodation expenses. They coordinate all oncology diagnostics and maintenance, operate ethically, and follow all relevant laws and regulations.

AiroMedical has all the above benefits for adult and pediatric cancer treatment. Because of our approach, we cut the time by 3–4 times from the request to the start in the hospital. It is faster than 99% of the TOP medical booking services. Contact us, and let us help.

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