EN
Almost always cancer diagnosis is shocking and sounds like a verdict. But even in more difficult situation are the parents of a child who was diagnosed with cancer. Over the past 20 years in many developing countries, the incidence of cancer among children and adolescents aged 1 to 18 years has increased by 25%, and this figure continues to increase. MedicGlobus specialists decided to share the features of cancer treatment in children abroad. We will talk about all the major features associated with the treatment of pediatric cancer in foreign clinics.
READ IN THE ARTICLE:
What parents need to know before starting cancer treatment for their child?
Do children need treatment abroad who already started treatment at home?
Which countries accept “already treated” children and in which do not?
Prices for treatment of children abroad: more expensive or cheaper
The difference between hospitals in CIS countries and foreign cancer centers
Statistics of curing cancer children in foreign clinics
WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING CANCER TREATMENT?
Treatment of cancer requires high professionalism of doctors, the use of modern treatment protocols, quality drugs and advanced diagnostic equipment. The clinic should have all of the mentioned features available and only then it can suit the treatment of pediatric cancer. Most often this category includes large, multidisciplinary medical centers with specialized units of pediatric oncology or large University hospitals. Highly specialized children’s hospitals are not exception.
Before starting a therapy, parents of a child should learn about all the complications associated with surgical and other types of treatment (radiation therapy, chemotherapy). Some children’s oncological diagnoses are extremely difficult to cure and require long and complex treatments, especially for rare embryonic tumors, tumors of the brain and spinal cord and oncohematological pathology.
When considering the possibility of treatment abroad, parents should be ready to deposit a safety deposit amount – a mandatory condition for some clinics for the hospitalization of a child. Such tactics are used in many medical centers in case of a serious condition of the patient, in case of a large tumor, extensive metastatic process and also with rare oncological diagnoses. This is for the insurance to the medical center in case emergency measures or intensive therapy for the child are required.
It is important to remember that treatment should be prescribed strictly personalized and in complex, since the loss of one of the links of the treatment protocol can lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of therapy or even a relapse of the disease.
DO CHILDREN NEED TREATMENT ABROAD WHO ALREADY STARTED TREATMENT AT HOME?
In this situation, everything depends on the diagnosis of the patient and the treatment that was taken in the country of residence. In most cases, patients who have gone through all the main treatment tactics are denied treatment in foreign clinic for example, maximum doses of radiation, which excludes the use of this method as one of the main tactic.
Each oncological case should be considered strictly as an individual one and the final decision must be made by a medical consilium. The more therapeutic tactics are applied, the less likely that the patient will be taken abroad. Not always in the home country, treatment is selected according to the personalized characteristics of each case, which leads to unsatisfactory results of treatment.
WHICH COUNTRIES ACCEPT “ALREADY TREATED” CHILDREN AND IN WHICH DO NOT?
Usually in all the countries if treatment is initiated (especially chemotherapy) on child, the patient will be recommended to finish the course and evaluate the results of treatment, after which the foreign clinic will be able to give an answer about the possibility of accepting this patient. Categorically it is not recommended to interrupt the protocol of therapy.
Previously treated children most often are difficult to take in Israel and the EU countries. In some centers, children with advanced stages of oncological pathology are admitted for treatment but only for short-term palliative therapy, which will be aimed at improving the overall condition of the child.
It is important to understand that a positive or negative decision on the possibility of treatment of a child is made on the basis of consultation exclusively personalized after reviewing the patient’s medical reports.
PRICES FOR TREATMENT OF CHILDREN ABROAD: MORE EXPENSIVE OR CHEAPER
The cost of treating children depends on the complexity and rarity of the tumor. In most cases, the cost of treating a child is not much different from the cost of medical care for an adult, although in some cases (rare formations, complex localizations and sizes, multiple relapses, etc.) treatment cost can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOSPITALS IN CIS COUNTRIES AND FOREIGN CANCER CENTERS
The main differences between foreign clinics and hospitals in CIS countries are:
- high-end diagnostic and medical equipment;
- availability of quality consumables and modern drugs;
- high qualifications and wide clinical experience of doctors;
- complex personalized approach to treatment;
- minimally invasive tactics of surgical treatment;
- access to authoritative clinical trials.
STATISTICS OF CURING CANCER CHILDREN IN FOREIGN CLINICS
According to the European statistics for the period from 2010 to 2015, the 5-year survival rate of children with diagnosed oncological neoplasms with timely diagnosis and quality treatment reaches 71%. In the CIS countries, this indicator is about 20% lower.
READ ALSO:
Where is Leukemia Treated and How Much Does it Cost?
Cost of bone marrow transplantation and where is it performed
How the Bone Marrow Transplantation Is Performed?
Top-Achievements of modern oncohematology
