Cancer Treatment In Israel: How Innovation Saves Lives

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Cancer treatment in Israel: how innovation saves lives

According to the World Health Organization, cancer is the second most common cause of death in developed countries. It is noteworthy that the incidence of cancer pathologies is growing from year to year. This is mainly due to the increase in the life expectancy of people, because with age, the likelihood of developing cancer only increases.

However, along with the increasing incidence rate, it should also be said about a positive trend - a constant improvement in the quality of treatment, a decrease in mortality, and an increasing rate of recovery or long-term remission after cancer treatment. What is the reason for this?

First of all, it must be said about the modern diagnostic capabilities, thanks to which doctors can detect cancer in the early stages of development. For example, a real breakthrough in oncology - PET-CT diagnostics allows you to detect even small clusters of cancer cells in the body. Such an examination is effective both for determining primary cancer foci and metastases.

As you know, in the early stages of development, cancer is completely curable, therefore, screening programs are of great importance in reducing mortality from cancer. In particular, in Israel, such examinations are massive in relation to some types of cancer. Cancer check-up diagnostics in Israel is a service that is available in every cancer clinic in the country for foreign patients. Many foreigners undergo such diagnostics every year, especially those who have a hereditary predisposition.

Content:

• Oncology treatment in Israel: the best modern techniques
• Error-free diagnosis of cancer in Israel
• The effectiveness of treatment in Israel
• How much does it cost to cure cancer in Israel?

Oncology treatment in Israel: the best modern techniques

However, the modern successes of world oncology would not have been possible without effective treatment methods. Despite the fact that cancer is still considered an incurable disease, modern Israeli medicine has a wide arsenal of both surgical and conservative methods of cancer therapy. Today, in the initial stages, cancer is curable in almost 100% of cases, and as for the advanced stages of the disease, thanks to innovative methods of treatment, in most cases it is possible to achieve stable long-term remission.

Today, cancer treatment in Israel is carried out using the following modern methods:

• Minimally invasive and robotic surgery … Surgery remains the main treatment for cancer. The surest way to get rid of a tumor is to remove it. In recent years, in Israel, minimally invasive methods have been used to remove cancerous growths - endoscopic, laparoscopic and robotic operations. With endoscopic interventions, the removal of the neoplasm is carried out through the natural openings of the body, for example, the anus, oral or nasal cavity. An endoscope and microsurgical instruments are inserted into the hole. Everything that happens inside is broadcast on a large screen, since the endoscope is equipped with a video camera and a light source. As for laparoscopic operations, such interventions are carried out through a small incision or puncture, where the laparoscope is inserted. And the most modern surgical method is a robotic operation using a Da Vinci installation. This is a unique platform with manipulator arms that can approach the operating field from any angle (which the surgeon's hands cannot). Robotic operations are characterized by the highest accuracy, since all interventions are performed according to a strictly specified command.
• Chemotherapy. This is a widely used method of conservative cancer therapy, which consists in the introduction into the body of cytotoxic drugs that destroy cancer cells. Most often, such drugs are administered intravenously, however, it is also possible to take pills. Chemotherapy treatment of oncology in Israel is also carried out regionally. The technique of intraperitoneal chemotherapy consists in the introduction of a solution of chemotherapy drugs into the abdominal cavity. In this case, there is no absorption of drugs into the bloodstream, which minimizes side effects and increases the effectiveness of treatment.

• Radiotherapy and radiosurgery. Another conservative cancer treatment is radiation therapy. In Israel, new-generation linear accelerators are used for radiation therapy, directing the flow of X-rays directly into the tumor, without touching healthy tissues. Depending on the diagnosis, the size and location of the tumor, various options for radiotherapy are used in Israel - brachytherapy, intensive modulated therapy or stereotactic radiosurgery. The latter is most often used to treat brain tumors, but recently it has begun to be used in relation to other malignant neoplasms.
• Immunotherapy. In the 90s of the last century, it was discovered that human immune cells are not able to detect cancer cells due to specific proteins that are specific inhibitors of immune activity against cancer. This mechanism served as the basis for the creation of a new method of treatment - immunotherapy. This is a real breakthrough in oncology, and today both doctors and researchers who are improving this method have high hopes for immunotherapy. In Israel, both immunotherapeutic drugs are used to stimulate the immune system, and molecular genetic methods of reprogramming the patient's immune cells, which are trained in this way to fight cancer.

Error-free diagnosis of cancer in Israel

Only an accurately diagnosed diagnosis will ensure the choice of the correct pathology treatment strategy. Oncology in Israel is a modern examination standard that provides 100% accuracy in the diagnosis.

As a rule, the following types of studies are carried out to diagnose oncopathology:

• Consultation with an oncologist.
• Laboratory blood tests (general, biochemistry, tests for tumor markers and hormones).
• Instrumental diagnostics - ultrasound, radiography, CT, MRI, PET, PET-CT.
• Specific instrumental studies showing the functional activity of the target organ.
• Biopsy and histopathological examination of the sample taken.

After the research, an expert group of doctors is assembled, which establishes a diagnosis and determines the tactics of treating the patient.

The effectiveness of treatment in Israel

Israel is considered one of the world leaders in the treatment of cancer. So, if the 5-year survival rate for cancer in Russia and the CIS countries is about 50%, then in Israel it is 80-85%! It is noteworthy that this figure is growing from year to year.

For certain types of cancer, Israel is showing phenomenal results. For example, with breast cancer, the survival rate is 95-98%! And with melanoma - up to 96%, while in post-Soviet countries the survival rate for melanoma is only 5-7%. For this reason, Israel is a fairly popular destination for foreign patients who want to defeat such a serious disease as cancer. The best oncology clinics in Israel are happy to provide all their services to patients from different parts of the world.

How much does it cost to cure cancer in Israel?

The cost of cancer treatment in Israel depends on a number of factors, including:

• Variety and stage of the disease.
• Selected treatment tactics.
• Duration of therapy (eg, number of courses of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, etc.).
• Selected clinic (public or private).
• Other factors.

It is noteworthy that the treatment of oncology in the Promised Land is 30-40% cheaper than in Western Europe. For example, if the basic package of oncology diagnostics in Germany costs about 4500 US dollars, then in Israel it is 3600 dollars. Cancer surgeries cost from 3 to 20 thousand US dollars, depending on the complexity.