Germany is one of the most attractive countries for medical tourists. The level of medicine here is very high and the prices for medical services are quite reasonable. In addition, waiting lists are not that long, and it is possible to receive the necessary therapy without any delay. Most patients come to Germany for treatment of serious diseases, and oncology remains the most demanded area.
What kind of surgeries are performed in Germany
If possible, cancer treatment in Germany starts with surgery. This is the best way to fight cancer. By completely removing the tumor, it is possible to cure cancer. For some patients, surgery is not only the main, but also the only method of treatment.
In Germany, complex and high-tech interventions are carried out. German healthcare professionals give preference to:
- Endoscopic removal of early-stage tumors
- Minimally invasive laparoscopic and video thoracoscopic surgery
- Robotic surgery
- Organ-sparing surgery
If necessary, diagnostic procedures are performed during surgery, for example, to allow navigation, to more precisely define the tumor boundaries or to find all affected lymph nodes.
Reconstructive procedures are performed during surgery to remove the tumor or in the next stage of surgical treatment. They help to restore lost functions such as bowel continuity, independent ability to defecate, urinate, speak, chew, etc. Some reconstructive plastic surgery procedures are designed to improve a person’s appearance, for example, after removal of head and neck tumors or after breast surgery in women.
Which types of radiation therapy are used in Germany
Dozens of radiation therapies are used in German cancer hospitals. They are characterized by a high level of safety.
Even outdated methods of irradiating tumors are quite effective. The problem is that they are not safe: together with the malignant tumor, they destroy nearby organs and tissues, causing numerous complications.
In Germany, more precise radiation options are used that allow radiation to be targeted to the tumor, reducing the dose to nearby critical structures. In addition, modern equipment often allows radiation to be delivered in fewer sessions, reducing the length of treatment.
Germany uses the latest types of both remote irradiation and other radiation therapy techniques, including:
- Gamma Knife and CyberKnife
- Stereotactic body radiation therapy
- Intraoperative irradiation
- Proton therapy
- Brachytherapy
- Radioembolization
- Radiotargeted and radionuclide therapy
Which systemic cancer treatments are used in Germany
Once metastases are present, a person’s life expectancy no longer depends on local treatment, but on systemic treatment methods that help to control all tumors in the body at once.
In Germany, innovative drugs and methods are used to treat all cancer types, so that even patients who come here in the advanced stages of the disease can expect a long-term remission. German clinics use not only traditional cytostatic chemotherapy, but also immunotherapy, targeted, hormonal, anti-angiogenic therapy, antibody-drug conjugates, etc. Specialized centers successfully use oncolytic viruses, dendritic cell vaccines and adoptive cell technologies.
If you want to find out the cost of different procedures and make an appointment for cancer treatment in one of the German clinics, visit the Booking Health website. Here you can find the best oncology healthcare facilities abroad. You can choose a suitable hospital, get acquainted with its doctors, make an appointment for convenient dates and get services for organizing treatment abroad.