The Oncology Department of the Israeli private clinic Assuta employs more than 300 specialists in conservative and surgical cancer treatment. Only experienced doctors provide treatment in the clinic - there is not a single trainee here. Certified experts in therapeutic, radiation and surgical oncology work with each other to provide patients with personalized care.
The Assuta clinic's oncologists include such well-known Israeli doctors as Professor Dan Adarka, Professor Moshe Inbar, Dr. Irina Zhivelyuk, Dr. Yulia Grinberg and others. Oncological patients have the opportunity to undergo surgery from leading Israeli surgeons: Professor Hagit Tulchinski, Professor Dan Grisaro , Professor Shlomo Schneibaum, etc.
A comprehensive approach to cancer treatment
Assuta Clinic practices a multidisciplinary, or team, approach to everything related to the fight against cancer. Doctors responsible for treating the same patient readily advise each other, evaluate test results, and jointly develop a therapy plan.
The clinic regularly hosts conferences on oncology, in which specialists exchange information about both common and rare diseases. After exchanging data, doctors work together to select the best treatment for patients.
Each treatment plan is developed based on innovative therapies, research findings and clinical trials. The specialists also take into account the existing sources of psychological help and support. The scheme of therapy, adopted in Israel, is based on the treatment of the whole organism, not just a malignant tumor. To do this, the doctor must understand how cancer affects the patient, both physically and emotionally.
Cancer diagnosis in Israel
The clinic conducts all types of imaging studies for cancer:
- PET-CT - a procedure that allows you to accurately determine the prevalence of cancer and identify tumor metastases;
- PET-MRI is a unique technique, the equipment for which is available only in 50 clinics around the world;
- MRI;
- mammography;
- all types of ultrasound, including transvaginal, transrectal, transesophageal, etc.;
- radioisotope scanning.
In the laboratories of the clinic, various studies are performed, including analysis of tumor tissues, blood tests for tumor markers, tests for the determination of genetic mutations in tumors.
The clinic's specialists also carry out invasive examinations:
- hysteroscopy - endoscopic examination of the uterine cavity;
- gastroduodenoscopy;
- colonoscopy;
- sigmoidoscopy;
- anoscopy;
- laryngoscopy;
- bronchoscopy;
- cystourethroscopy;
- mediastinoscopy.
During these endoscopic examinations, a biopsy is performed - also under the supervision of medical imaging techniques.
Features of cancer treatment in the Assuta clinic
Surgery
Surgery is a priority area of the clinic's work. More than 3000 operations are performed here annually.Most of them are oncological surgical interventions.
The clinic carries out:
- surgical removal of melanomas and other malignant skin tumors (the clinic has a department of surgery according to the Mohs method);
- removal of tumor metastases in the abdominal cavity;
- surgical treatment of gastrointestinal tumors;
- surgery to remove the cancer-affected thyroid gland;
- all types of operations for breast cancer, including breast reconstruction and organ-preserving interventions;
- urologic oncology operations, including with the use of the 4th generation robotic surgical system Da Vinci Xi;
- neurosurgical interventions for brain tumors.
Chemotherapy
In the chemotherapy department, the patient can receive an individual treatment protocol and undergo the prescribed procedures in a comfortable environment. There is a separate fenced area for each patient in the department. There is a transforming chair that can be brought into any comfortable position, as well as a place for an accompanying person.
The clinic staff provides psychological support to cancer patients and their families. During the procedures, patients are offered tea, coffee and sweets.
Radiation therapy
The clinic is equipped with equipment that allows the use of the most modern methods of radiation therapy. These include:
- Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), which minimizes radiation damage to vital organs;
- Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), which allows precise irradiation of tumors located in constantly moving organs such as the lungs;
- stereotactic corporal radiation therapy (SBRT), which is 80% to 90% effective, which is comparable to surgery to remove a tumor.
Alternative medicine methods for cancer treatment
In addition to the multidisciplinary traditional cancer treatment in Israel, it offers patients the services of integrative or alternative therapy. Alternative cancer treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicine, and massage therapy. All these methods are used only in combination with the main cancer treatment.