Liver cancer is an oncological disease in which the primary focus of the tumor is located in the tissues of the liver. To date, this type of tumor is considered quite common and accounts for approximately 1.5% of the total number of oncological diseases. Each year, around 300,000-600,000 new cases of liver cancer are diagnosed worldwide.
Best Israeli Oncology Clinics
A couple of decades ago, such a diagnosis was considered a sentence, since doctors did not have powerful medical equipment and advanced treatment methods. Now the situation has changed radically, and with timely diagnosis, a very effective treatment for liver cancer is possible. In Israel, doctors have achieved really high rates in this field of medicine. Every year, hundreds of patients from the former Soviet Union and European countries turn to the specialists of this country.
According to statistics, the effectiveness of complex treatment in this country reaches 80%. With regard to reviews of the treatment of liver cancer in Israel, the majority of cancer patients who have been treated here note:
- quick diagnostics (carried out literally in a couple of days);
- careful selection of treatment methods;
- relatively low prices (patients note that in European centers the cost of treatment is 10-30% higher);
- effectiveness - many managed to achieve remission even at the 3rd stage.
Israel has great opportunities in the field of medicine, numerous oncological centers are located in almost all large cities of the country. In the list of the largest can be listed below.
Clinic "Sheba"
The clinic is located in the suburbs of Tel Aviv. In the entire Middle East, it has the largest oncology department. It was here that they introduced a program for the effective prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, including liver cancer.
In addition to the latest cabinet equipment, Sheba is known for working closely with MD Anderson, one of the best cancer hospitals in the United States of America.
Rambam Clinic in Haifa
The Oncology Institute at this clinic is well known far beyond Israel. The use of advanced treatment methods, cooperation with European and American oncology centers, the possibility of patient participation in clinical trials - all this significantly increases the effectiveness of treatment.
Ichilov Clinic in Tel Aviv
This cancer center in Israel is based on the basis of a city hospital. One of the main features is specialization in all types of tumors, including liver cancer. The department is famous for the introduction of experimental techniques that allow you to fight the disease even at the stage of metastasis.
Asuta Clinic in Tel Aviv
Speaking about the best and famous oncological centers of this country, one cannot fail to note one of the largest private medical centers - the Asuta clinic. It provides comprehensive treatment for all types of oncology, in particular liver cancer. In Israel, this center is one of the leading places.
Hadassah State Hospital in Israel
Another famous cancer center that accepts patients from different countries. For high treatment effectiveness, only advanced techniques and developments in the field of oncology are used, the clinic is equipped with the latest models of medical equipment. The staff of the hospital are upscale narrow specialists with vast experience.
Diagnostic procedures
An important component of effective treatment is fast and accurate diagnosis. It depends on the correctness of the diagnosis how effective the selected treatment will be.
The Israeli doctors pay special attention to the diagnostic process. The cabinets are equipped with the latest equipment, so that even early detection of oncology becomes possible. In a few days, the patient undergoes a series of hardware examinations and passes tests for laboratory tests.
- The biochemistry of blood is detailed. During the study, tumor markers CA 15-3, CA 242, CA 19-9, CF 72-4 are detected. Thanks to these data, a liver tumor is detected even before the onset of symptoms. With this approach, the treatment of liver cancer in Israel provides the maximum chance of recovery.
- Hardware diagnostics: ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging. Thanks to these types of diagnostics, doctors get a complete visualization of the tumor, including its size, shape, exact location and possible interaction with other internal organs.
- Angiography. During this procedure, it becomes clear in what condition the renal vessels are, which is extremely important for the subsequent operation.
- Diagnostic laparoscopy.
- Scintigraphy of liver tissue.
- Positron emission tomography. As a result of its implementation, all metastases in the patient's body are detected.
- Biopsy. This type of diagnosis involves the extraction of a sample of tumor tissue and its study.
SIRT treatment
The treatment of liver cancer in Israel is often carried out using the latest SIRT technique. This term should be understood as the effect on the tumor of selective internal radiation therapy. Being a more advanced version of radiation therapy, SIRT effectively destroys tumor cells and prevents the further growth of tumors. Risks of re-development are significantly reduced.
During therapy, a catheter is inserted into the tumor in the liver tissue through the inguinal artery. It contains special radioactive elements for radiation. Due to this, radiation covers only the focus of cancer cells and almost does not affect healthy tissues.
From the classical method of radiation therapy, the new technology is characterized by a reduction in numerous side effects and a more effective effect on the tumor (due to local action).
Using targeted chemotherapy
In the fight against oncology, chemotherapy has also proven itself. At the same time, a serious drawback of this method is the many side effects that worsen the general condition of the patient. This problem was effectively solved in Israel. Treatment of liver cancer is carried out using targeted chemotherapy.
The peculiarity of these drugs is that they act on molecules in cancer cells that are responsible for growth and division. An important indicator is the selective effect of drugs. In other words, targeted chemotherapy has no effect on healthy tissues.
One of the most effective drugs of this group is considered to be Tarceva. It is prescribed for tumors of the liver and other organs related to the digestive system.
Chemoembolization
One of the newest methods of treating liver cancer in Israel is chemoembolization. The essence of such therapy is as follows. The constant growth of the tumor is due to the uninterrupted flow of blood and the delivery of nutrients to it. If nutrition is stopped, further development of pathological cells will be impossible. To date, 2 methods of chemoembolization are used.
- Oily. During oil chemoembolization, a catheter is inserted into the artery that feeds the tumor. It blocks the artery for several hours, and therefore blood flow is impaired. At this time, a special drug that destroys cancer cells enters the blood vessels from the catheter. These substances include fatty acid esters. Moreover, the drug is well compatible with other drugs.
- Chemoembolization with microspheres. Each microsphere contains a drug that can stop further tumor growth. Microspheres are delivered to the artery via a catheter. Here, the microspheres get stuck in a blood vessel and completely block the blood flow that feeds the tumor. After this, the substance is released from the microsphere and enters the cancer cells.
Radiofrequency ablation
Radiofrequency ablation is another innovation that takes place in the oncology clinics of Israel. This method is based on exposure to the tumor with high temperature. This effect is achieved when using current.
Using a laparoscope, the rod of a special device is inserted into the liver (close to the tumor). This device is capable of generating radio waves whose frequency reaches 500 kilohertz. Under the influence of such waves, the tissue is heated to a high temperature and tissue necrosis is achieved in a certain area. As a result, the tumor dies, and the tissue that has been burned dissolves over time.
The advantages of this treatment method are obvious:
- radiofrequency ablation can be carried out even in cases when a surgical operation cannot be performed for one reason or another;
- the procedure is carried out without incisions, and this reduces the recovery time and reduces the risk of complications;
- after such treatment, the risk of relapse is reduced by 3 times than after surgery.
However, this approach to therapy is not possible in all cases.
Brachytherapy
The brachytherapy method is a more modern version of radiation therapy. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the radiation source is injected directly into the tumor. At the same time, cancer cells receive the maximum radiation flux, and all healthy tissues - only a small percentage.
Doctors can implant the source of radiotherapy in two ways:
- manually - as the name implies, implantation and removal will be carried out by an experienced surgeon;
- using robotics - in this case, the source is loaded into a mini-container and delivered to the source through the conductive channels, removed in a similar way.
Surgery
Despite the presence of a large number of gentle methods for removing tumors, surgery is rightfully considered one of the most effective and reliable in the treatment of oncology. There are several types of liver surgery in Israel.
- Resection - this term refers to the excision of a small part of an organ. In this case, the tumor itself and a small part of healthy tissue are subject to removal. This is to prevent relapse. This approach is chosen if the size of the neoplasm is small. Given the regeneration of liver tissue, the patient easily tolerates the removal of a small part of the organ.
- Transplantation of a donor liver - this operation takes place if the tumor affects both lobes of the liver.
Surgery is most often combined with other methods of treatment.
Treatment prices
Speaking about the cost of treating liver cancer in Israel, it is worth emphasizing: the doctor will be able to voice a specific amount only after examination and diagnostic data. Each individual patient needs an individual treatment selection, because each case of oncology is unique in its own way. Moreover, in each clinic there is a price list according to which pricing takes place.
A comprehensive diagnosis, allowing to identify the features of the disease costs about 6.000-8.000 $.
Partial resection costs $ 40,000-45,000.
Radiofrequency ablation - from $ 27,000.
The course of traditional chemotherapy - from $ 3000.
SIRT treatment - $ 50,000.
All of the above facts only confirm the high statistics. Oncologists, surgeons and other narrow specialists of these Israeli oncology clinics are aimed at high survival rates of patients, therefore, they work smoothly and clearly.