Melanoma is one of the least common but dangerous types of skin cancer because it has higher chances of spreading to different parts of the body if it is not detected on time.
Knowing that you are in the higher risk category for melanoma and identifying the early signs there are more chances of the treatment being successful. Hospitals in Turkey ensure that patients spotting the symptoms of melanoma get diagnosed early and get treated according to the treatment required for the stage the skin cancer is at.
Why is it worth visiting Turkey for the treatment of Melanoma skin cancer?
Turkey is one of the leading medical tourism destinations that attract thousands of international patients yearly due to the following reasons.
- Hospitals in Turkey have certifications from numerous organizations like JCI, ISO, etc. which is a testament to the high-quality treatment they offer.
- A strong team of oncologists like Dr. Koray Topgul, Dr. Meltem, Dr. Mustafa Ozgan, etc. who are trained from leading hospitals in the world and are members of national and international cancer societies.
- Latest treatment facilities include diagnostics like punch biopsy, MRI, PET-CT scans, and treatment options like MOHS surgery, radiotherapy, etc.
- Collaboration with the leading hospitals from the US is what makes clinics in Turkey a standout. Examples are Anadolu Hospital which works in collaboration with John Hopkins, American Hospital Istanbul which has strong ties with MD Anderson, etc. These collaborations ensure that clinics in Turkey stay up-to-date with the latest treatment protocols.
How do doctors in Turkey diagnose Melanoma?
Assessing your skin to look for some unusual signs is one of the most important steps in the early detection of skin cancer. On spotting signs like changes in your existing moles or the formation of an unusual growth on your skin you should contact a doctor.
Doctors in Turkey on seeing these signs perform certain tests to confirm the presence of melanoma skin cancer. Some of the frequently performed tests in Turkish clinics include:
Physical examination
The doctor looks at your skin to look for any unusual signs. In addition to this, the doctor also asks the patient about their general health, medical reports, and family history of skin cancer.
Dermatoscopy
Dermatologists in Turkey use a dermatoscopy during a physical examination to look clearly at the spots on the skin. A dermatoscope has a magnifying glass and a light source which allows the dermatologist to get a better picture of the spots.
Biopsy
Removal of a part of the skin to analyze it for any abnormalities is mostly done to confirm if the patient has melanoma or not. Doctors in Turkey perform different types of biopsies for this purpose.
- Shave biopsy: In this procedure, the doctor cuts off a thin section of the top layer of the skin using a small blade.
- Punch biopsy: In punch biopsy, a cutter is placed on the area of the skin where there is some sort of growth. The cutter is then pressed to take a sample of the skin. Punch biopsy cuts off a deeper skin sample compared to the former type.
Imaging tests
Diagnostic imaging tests like MRI, CT, and PET scans help doctors to find out about the extent of skin cancer spread in the patient's body.
Treatment of Melanoma Skin Cancer in Turkey
Clinics in Turkey offer patients a holistic treatment plan once the diagnosis of skin cancer is confirmed. Specialists from the Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Radiology, Radiotherapy, Dermatology, etc. have a board meeting to discuss the treatment. Doctors in Turkey finalize the treatment plan for the patient based on the stage of cancer, the extent of melanoma spread, the general health of the patient, etc.
Treatment options for melanoma in Turkey include:
Wide excision surgery
Doctors during the diagnosis of melanoma perform a biopsy and take a skin sample to check for cancer growth. For thin melanomas, this procedure is enough to remove the cancer cells.
During the procedure, the doctors use a local anesthetic to numb the area before the biopsy. Next, the skin is cut from the particular area and is analyzed under the microscope. After the procedure, the skin is stitched to make sure that it's intact.
This type of surgery is best for patients who are diagnosed with melanoma in the early stages.
MOHS operation
During a
MOHS microsurgery, the surgeons cut a thin layer of skin. The surgeons then look at the layer under a microscope and if any cancer cells are seen the next layer is excised. This helps save the normal area of the skin and gives better results.
Lymph node dissection
This procedure is performed when the melanoma invades the lymph nodes in different regions of the body. Doctors use sentinel biopsy to look at the lymph nodes and then perform the procedure for the removal of lymph nodes.
In case the melanoma starts spreading to different parts of the body Turkish Doctors offer patients treatment options like:
Immunotherapy
Melanoma cancer cells when invading the other body areas (particularly lymph nodes) use special proteins to hide from the immune system. This helps them to dodge the body’s natural defense mechanism. To counter this, doctors use immunotherapy.
Target therapy
During target therapy, certain drugs are used. These drugs identify the weakness of the melanoma cancer cells and help to kill them.
Other treatment options include:
Cost of Melanoma Diagnostics & Treatment in Turkey
| Procedure |
Cost |
| Biopsy |
From $1000 |
| MRI |
From $700 |
| CT scan |
From $700 |
| Mohs surgery |
from $16000 |
| Chemotherapy |
From $4000 |
| Immunotherapy |
From $5000 |