What is Breast Cancer Treatment Cost in Turkey?
Breast cancer, characterised by abnormal growth of breast cells, is the most common type of cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women in Turkey, as elsewhere around the world.
When considering breast cancer surgery, there is great variation in how surgery is being practised in Turkey, with the rate of surgery increasing by 20% in the year 2018 from the last decade.
The cost of breast cancer treatment in Turkey ranges between $ 6500 and $ 8000. This includes the cost of surgery, anaesthesia, operating room, medical supplies, and the necessary hospital stays for a specific duration.
What is Breast Cancer and its Symptoms?
Breast cancer, a medical condition where breast cells start growing at abnormal rates is often characterised by a mass or lump-like structure. These cancerous cells can also invade nearby healthy breast tissues and, in some cases, spread to other parts of the body, such as the brain.
Some common symptoms of breast cancer are listed below.
A lump around the breast and underarm area
Sudden changes in breast size, shape, or appearance
Swelling or thickening in part of the breast
Redness on the breast or nipple
Piercing pain in the breast or nipple area
Nipple discharge such as blood, cells etc.
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WhatsApp UsWhat are the Types of Breast Cancer?
Based on the cells or tissues where the cancer originates, the types of breast cancer include:
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS)
It is a non-invasive form where abnormal cells are found within the lining of a breast duct but have not spread outside that area.
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)
It is the most prevalent form, where cancer cells spread from the duct to surrounding breast tissue.
Triple-negative breast cancer
A challenging subtype that lacks estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors.
HER2-positive breast cancer
It is characterised by an excess of the HER2 protein, which can accelerate cancer growth.
Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS)
This type of cancer begins in the breast’s milk-producing glands but does not spread to surrounding tissues.
What are the Types of Breast Cancer Treatment in Turkey?
When you are diagnosed with breast cancer, understanding the various treatment options available becomes crucial, especially when seeking care internationally. To treat breast cancer, doctors perform the following surgeries:
Lumpectomy
This procedure focuses on removing the tumour along with a small border of healthy tissue around it. It’s designed to keep as much of the breast as possible intact.
Modified Radical Mastectomy
In this surgery, the entire breast with the tumour is removed, along with some of the lymph nodes under the arm, without removing the chest muscles.
Breast Conservation Surgery
This approach removes the tumour and a small amount of surrounding tissue, aiming to conserve the rest of the breast. Cosmetic techniques are often applied to reshape and enhance the appearance of the breast post-surgery.
Mastectomy with Reconstruction
This involves removing the affected breast and then reconstructing it using either implants or tissue from another part of the body, helping to restore the breast’s natural shape.
Reconstructive Surgery
This is a separate procedure performed after a mastectomy to rebuild the breast’s appearance, using implants or tissue from another area of the body to create a natural look and feel.
Since breast cancer surgery is a comprehensive approach, hence, along with surgery, patients might need additional treatments, such as:
Chemotherapy
It involves the use of powerful drugs designed to kill cancer cells or halt their growth. Typically, it’s given in cycles with breaks in between, allowing the body time to recover.
Hormone therapy
It targets cancers that are sensitive to hormones, like certain types of breast and prostate cancers. By either blocking or reducing hormone levels, it helps to slow or stop the cancer from growing.
Radiation therapy
It uses high-energy rays or particles to directly target and destroy cancer cells in a specific area of the breast. It’s commonly used after surgery to completely eliminate any remaining cancer cells.
CCRT, or concurrent chemoradiotherapy
By combining chemotherapy and radiation therapy at the same time, this approach is often used to enhance the effectiveness of radiation in killing cancer cells.
What are the Factors Affecting Breast Cancer Treatment Costs in Turkey?
The cost of breast cancer treatment in Turkey depends on the type and complexity of the treatment chosen. Generally, personalised and combined approaches for advanced or aggressive cancer types will increase treatment expenses compared to single-modality approaches.
Type of breast cancer treatment in Turkey
The costs of different types of breast cancer treatments in Turkey are listed below.
Type of Surgery | Average Cost in USD |
|---|---|
Lumpectomy | $7,000 |
Modified Radical Mastectomy | $7,500 |
Breast Conservation Surgery | $7,000 |
Mastectomy with Reconstruction | $8,000 |
Reconstructive Surgery | $3,000 |
Chemotherapy | $2,000 |
Targeted Therapy | $9,000 |
Radiation Therapy | $5,000 |
Diagnostic Tests both before and after the treatment
Prior to treatment, diagnostic procedures such as mammography, ultrasound, MRI, and biopsy are essential for accurately determining the cancer’s type, stage, and spread, helping oncologists tailor an effective treatment plan. After treatment, regular imaging and tumour marker tests may be required for months or even years post-treatment, adding to cumulative costs over time.
Hospital Choice and Surgeon’s Expertise
The hospitals in Turkey equipped with advanced facilities for breast cancer treatment tend to be more expensive. Also, surgeons with extensive experience and specialised surgical skills, such as minimal invasive approach or robotic surgery, with a good record of successful outcomes, may charge higher fees for their services.
Breast Cancer Treatment Cost in Turkey Vs. Other Countries
Breast Cancer Surgery in Different Countries | Average Cost in USD |
|---|---|
Turkey | $7250 |
India | $5000 |
What are the Pre and Post-Treatment Costs for Breast Cancer in Turkey?
In addition to the actual treatment costs, there are several other expenses associated with breast cancer treatment in Turkey. These include:
Pre-treatment Expenses (Diagnostic tests such as blood tests, mammograms, biopsies, blocks, PET CT and IHC (ER/PR/Her2neu): $ 800 to $ 1000
Post-treatment Expenses (Pain relief medications, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and counselling): $ 500 to $ 900
How to Recover After Breast Cancer Treatment?
Recovering after breast cancer surgery is a journey that involves both physical and emotional care.
You can recover after breast cancer treatment with the help of the following measures.
Right after surgery, take proper rest and a good amount of sleep.Take prescribed medication on time to manage pain and discomfort.
If you have undergone surgery, keep the surgical site clean and dry. You should immediately report any signs of infection—such as redness, warmth, or unusual drainage.
With a balanced diet , it is easier to recover and perform daily activities. For a customised diet plan, you can also consult a dietitian to ensure smoother recovery.
You should attend your follow-up consultations regularly so that your doctor can closely monitor the recovery progress, detect the early signs of complications, and discuss any chances of recurrence.
Since recovery after breast cancer surgery can be emotionally challenging, it’s normal to experience a mix of emotions, from relief to sadness or anxiety. Connecting with counsellors, or breast cancer survivors can help you process these feelings.
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Frequently Asked Questions Related to Breast Cancer Treatment Cost
There are several tests done to start with the procedure of breast cancer treatment including Breast ultrasound, Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Biopsy, and Diagnostic mammogram. If breast cancer is diagnosed, staging tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the breast or to other parts of the body as well. The package typically doesn’t include the cost of these tests.
Breast cancer treatment depends on the stage of cancer and may consist of chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, and surgery. All medicines in the time frame that the patient is at the hospital for any of the procedures mentioned previously are covered in the package. Medicines taken for recovery are usually not covered in the package price.
Tamoxifen (Nolvadex, Soltamox) is a pill prescribed for decades to treat breast cancer. If a woman has a hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, it is suggested to go for hormone therapy as an after-surgery treatment plan. If there is less pain post-surgery, an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen will ease discomfort. The procedures and medicines are not covered in the package.
Your duration at the hospital depends on the type of breast cancer surgery you chose. The most common surgical options include a radical mastectomy, reconstruction, lumpectomy, or partial mastectomy. Generally, you only need to spend 1 day at the hospital and recuperate outside the hospital for 7 to 10 days to follow up with the doctor and also avoid any fluid buildup around the stomach.
Though most health insurance plans available cover breast cancer, some policies typically pay only for inpatient hospitalization and treatment at hospitals. They do not cover the entire cost of treatment. Please check with your provider before selecting a treatment plan.
Proton therapy is a high-tech alternative to getting surgery that offers tremendous accuracy to destroy cancerous cells and save healthy tissue. Therapies used rather than conventional breast cancer treatments are chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Cheaper therapies include massage, acupuncture, and reiki.
Everything You Need to Know About Breast Cancer Treatment: Q&A
Before the Procedure · 4 Questions
Breast cancer surgeries are mainly needed in stage I, II and III of breast cancer. Drug treatment are given, and if the treatment fails to cure cancer then surgery is preferred for this.
Smoking is related to causing different type of cancer and exposure to smoking has also caused different types of cancer. If you are smoking you should quit smoking immediately.
Breast cancer with estrogen receptor is being more likely to occur after being diagnosed for a longer period of time.
One week or few days before the surgery you may have to undergo blood tests such as electrocardiogram or chest x ray to check for your baseline health. Physical examination is done and meeting is also arranged with anesthesiologist.
During the Procedure · 3 Questions
Breast cancer surgery is not painful, it is being done by various techniques such as lumpectomy, breast removal or breast reconstruction. This surgery removes one or more lymph nodes from your axillary region, this can be sometimes unpleasant and painful.
During the breast cancer surgery the breast tissue including the skin, nipple and the surrounding tissues covering the chest are removed. In some cases the muscles of the chest wall are also removed.
Breast cancer surgery can be done both under local or general anesthesia. This is mainly done for segmental resection, broad excision, lumpectomy and in some cases sedatives are also being given along with local anesthesia to deal with anxiety. General anesthesia is also preferred in some cases.
Post the Procedure · 5 Questions
After breast surgery seroma will be formed inside the surgical cavity which is a natural part of the healing process of the body. Most of the seroma will disappear after 3 to 4 weeks of surgery.
You will be advised to restrict your exercise for few days after surgery especially weightlifting with upper arms and activities such as jogging, running or using an elliptical machine. You can do exercise once you are completely recovered from surgery.
You will be advised to undergo mammogram after breast conserving surgery but there is no need to undergo routine testing for mammogram.
You can return back to work as soon as you feel you are ready to start working again, you may find easier to go back to your work.
When you think you are ready physically and mentally then you can start your sexual activity.
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