Lung Cancer Treatment Cost in Turkey

The estimated Lung Cancer Treatment Cost in Turkey ranges between USD 10,000-USD 12,000 .

Lungs are the primary organs of the respiratory system. They are spongy, air-filled organs that help in inhaling oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. Cancer is a life-threatening disease in which abnormal cells grow uncontrollably. Lung cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the lungs that can spread to the nearby organs or tissues as well. 

Lung disease is a potentially deadly disease that is a leading cause of death worldwide.

Lung Cancer: Signs & Symptoms

Some of the main symptoms that can help your doctor in diagnosing and treating lung cancer are:

• A cough that lasts for more than three weeks
• Breathlessness
• Blood in cough
• Recurrent chest infections
• Tiredness or fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• unexplained weight loss
• A cough that gets worse over time
• Pain while breathing or coughing

Other symptoms associated with lung cancer include:

• Difficulty when swallowing, Dysphagia
• Wheezing
• A hoarse voice
• Swollen face or neck
• Changes in fingers like curved or larger at ends, this is also known as finger clubbing

What Are the Major Causes of Lung Cancer?

• Smoking is the most common risk factor for causing lung cancer.
• However, lung cancer can also hit those who have never smoked in their life. In such cases, there is no clear evidence of the cause of lung cancer. 
• Smoking causes lung cancer by damaging cells that form the lining of the lungs.
• When you inhale cancer-causing substances smoke, it directly affects the lung tissue at once.
• Initially, your body tends to repair itself. However, with repeated exposure to smoke, the normal cells forming the lining of the lungs start damaging leading to the development of cancer.

Lung Cancer & Its Major Types

Lung cancer is broadly classified into two main categories based on the appearance of cancerous cells under the microscope. 

• Small Cell Lung Cancer: This type of lung cancer is aggressive and comprises 10-15% of lung cancers. It is mostly caused due to cigarette smoking and metastasizes rapidly to other organs.
  
• Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: 85% of lung cancer cases are NSCLS. They are further classified into three main types:
  – Adenocarcinomas: It comprises 40% of cases of lung cancer. This type can also be seen in non-smokers especially women. Most often, adenocarcinomas develop in the peripheral or outer area of the lungs and tend to metastasis to the nearby lymph nodes and beyond.
  – Squamous Cell Carcinomas: It mostly occurs in the central chest area in the bronchi and constitutes approximately 30% of the cases. It often remains within the lungs or spreads to the nearby lymph nodes and grows uncontrollably, forming a cavity.
  – Large Cell Carcinomas: This is the rare type of lung cancer that spreads to the lymph nodes and distant organs. 

What Are the Risk Factors for Lung Cancer?

There are a number of risk factors that may increase the risk of developing lung cancer. These factors include:

• Smoking: The risk of lung cancer is directly proportional to the number of cigarettes you have smoked over the number of years. If you smoke, it’s high time to quit as it significantly lowers your risk of lung cancer development.

• Family medical history of lung cancer: If any of your family members had been diagnosed with lung cancer in the past, your chances are high of developing this disease as well.

• Exposure to toxic chemicals: Exposure to certain toxic chemicals and cancer-causing substances such as asbestos, chromium, nickel – can increase your risk of developing lung cancer as well.

• Radiation therapy for cancer treatment: If you’ve had radiation therapy in the past around the chest area, it also increases your chances of lung cancer.
• Passive Smoking: If you don’t smoke but inhale smoking through active smokers, you become prone to developing lung cancer. 

What Preventive Measures Can Be Taken to Prevent Lung Cancer?

Several preventive measures can reduce your risk of lung cancer and they are:

• Quit Smoking: About 80-90% of lung cancer cases happen due to smoking. Quitting smoking is one of the main steps that can be taken to lower the risk of lung cancer. Talk to your medical specialist about making necessary lifestyle changes to quit smoking. You can take nicotine replacement products and join support groups or programs.

• Avoid Secondhand Smoke: Approximately 7,000 lung cancer cases happen in the United States every year due to secondhand smoke. Also, living with a smoker increases your risk up to 30%. Prefer smoke-free bars, restaurants, hotels. You can also ask people not to smoke in your car or home. Ask your friends and family not to smoke near your kids. Also, teach your children about secondhand smoke and its bad effects.

• Check Your Home For Radon Levels: Radon is an odorless radioactive gas produced from the natural decay of uranium found in rocks and soils. Unsafe levels of radon can accumulate in buildings that cause around 3 to 14% of lung cancers. There are safe and cost-effective methods to prevent radon accumulation into buildings including your homes as well.

• Avoid Exposure To Toxic Chemicals: If your workplace has exposure to carcinogens and other cancer-causing chemicals, follow the employer’s precautions. Wear masks if asked. Also, consult your doctor for necessary precautions. Quit smoking if you smoke else chances of lung cancer increase from workplace carcinogens.
• Follow Healthy Lifestyle: Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Include food sources of vitamins and nutrients in your diet. Avoid taking vitamins in the form of artificial supplements. It increases your risk of lung cancer especially if you smoke. Also, follow an exercise routine at least three to four days a week. 

What Makes Turkey One of the Best Countries for Lung Cancer Treatment?

Turkey is amongst the top 10 medical tourism destinations because of the following reasons:

• Government’s Support in Healthcare System: In the past years, Turkey has made several efforts to make advancements in the medical field. Turkey has been able to set up several healthcare institutions across the country because of public-private partnerships under the Ministry of Health.

• Hospitals in Turkey: WIth more than 50 JCI accredited hospitals across Turkey, the healthcare industry has already begun to spread its magic in various cities including Ankara, Izmir, Istanbul, and Bursa.

• International Collaboration: Apart from well-facilitated hospitals, Turkish hospitals have collaborated with several international hospitals such as Anadolu Medical Center with John Hopkins Medicine International,  Memorial Health Group to join the American Hospital Association, Acibadem Hospital with Harvard Medical International, and so on.

• Experienced Medical Personnel: Healthcare services in Turkish hospitals are supervised by highly experienced doctors, surgeons, nurses, and other paramedics. There were approximately 150 thousand medical professionals in Turkey in 2017.

• Great Global Connectivity: With 33 airports offering domestic and international flights, Ataturk airport in Istanbul serves the highest number of passengers daily. Turkish airlines, Onus Air, Emirates, and other global airlines offer great services across the world and within Turkey.
• Turkish Visa Process: Once you decide to get treatment in Turkey, submit your documents for verification. After verifying documents, you are good to go to Turkey for your medical treatment. For traveling, you must have a valid passport 90 days before you travel from your home country. The visa fee varies from country to country. There is no visa fee if you are from Israel, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Morocco, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Belarus, Belize, Albania, Japan, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Colombia, South Korea, Kosovo, Costa Rica,  Germany, Andorra, Argentina, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, Jordan, Vatican, Venezuela, New Zealand, Honduras, Iran, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Moldova, Monaco, Nicaragua, Uzbekistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, St. Cristopher Nevis, Saint Marino, Seychelles, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Chile, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Iceland, Thailand, Trinidad Tobago, Tunisia.

Apart from the above-mentioned factors, rich Turkish culture and magnificent tourist attractions with intrigued history attract people across the globe. In your leisure time, feel free to explore and enrich your knowledge level with Turkish historical, cultural, and geographical information. 

Which are the best lung cancer treatment hospitals in Turkey?

Turkey abodes more than 50 JCI (Joint Commission International) hospitals that offer budget-friendly lung cancer treatment. Some of the best hospitals are:

• Medical Park Group, Istanbul: Established in 1993, Medical Park Group is one of the renowned healthcare groups in Turkey. It has various multi-specialty hospitals across Turkey with a capacity of more than 6,000 beds.

• Kolan International Hospital, Istanbul: Founded in 1997, it is a multi-specialty hospital with a capacity of nearly 200 beds with six operating rooms and 70 ICU beds. The healthcare services are backed up by more than 3,300 staff members including medical professionals, nursing staff.

• American Hospital, Istanbul: Founded in 1920, it is a super-specialty hospital that treats around 120,000 patients annually. It is one of the best hospitals well-known for lung cancer treatment in Turkey.
• Acibadem Hospital Group, Istanbul, Turkey: Founded in 1991, the hospital has 21 multi-specialty hospitals and 16 outpatient clinics across Turkey. The group has nearly 3,500 medical personnel and 4,000 nurses. 

How Is Medsurge India Helpful in Getting Lung Cancer Treatment in Turkey?

Medsurge acts as a digital mediator that helps in getting appropriate treatment at the best hospital in Turkey and offers the best and affordable lung cancer treatment cost in Turkey. The services include making appointments with the best doctor at the right hospital, transportation, nearby accommodation, food, visa assistance, everything. You just need to post a query on the website and expect a callback within 24 hours. Medsurge team fulfills all your needs that are required for medical treatment in Turkey.