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UKR: About Targeted Therapy in Türkiye
Targeted therapy in Türkiye is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs designed to target cancer cells without affecting normal cells. Cancer cells typically have changes in their genes that make them different from healthy cells. Genes are part of a cell’s DNA that tell it to do certain things. For example, gene changes in cancerous cells might cause the cell to grow and divide very quickly. These types of changes are what make it a cancerous cell.
Depending on the type of cancer, where it starts, grows, and develops is not always the same. Some cancers have certain types of proteins or enzymes that send certain messages to tell the cancer cell to grow and copy itself. Targeted therapy in Türkiye uses drugs that can “target” these proteins or enzymes and block messages sent. Targeted drugs can block or turn off signals that make cancer cells grow, or can signal the cancer cells to destroy themselves.
Healthy Türkiye will be happy to assist you in planning your targeted therapy process in Türkiye according to your cancer type. Contact Healthy Türkiye and benefit from a free consultation.
Targeted Therapy Procedure in Türkiye
Targeted therapy in Türkiye also known as biological therapy or molecular therapy is among the modern and effective treatment options for cancers and other tumors. Türkiye is one of the advanced countries offering this treatment, with fairly high success rates. Thousands of patients, not only from Türkiye but from 50 different countries come to Türkiye for their cancer treatment.
The success rates of targeted therapy in Türkiye are around 80%, although they might vary depending on the type and stage of cancer. The 5-year survival rates are around 50% on average after targeted therapy for the treatment of progressed phases of cancer.
Targeted therapy, to be at its most effective, must be used in conjunction with an accurate diagnosis by expert medical staff. Each patient’s symptoms are unique, so every course of the treatment process must be tailored to suit the individual. This approach is referred to as “Precision Medicine” due to the highly accurate nature of the targeted therapy which results in greater efficacy and an improved chance of success in Türkiye.
How Targeted Therapy Works in Türkiye?
Targeted therapies in Türkiye are made to find and attack specific areas or substances in cancer cells. Additionally, targeted therapy can detect and block certain kinds of messages sent inside a cancer cell that tell it to grow. Some of the reasons cancerous cells become the “targets” are:
Too much of a certain protein on a cancerous cell
A protein on a cancerous cell that is not on normal cells
A protein that is mutated in some way on a cancer cell
DNA changes that aren’t in a normal cell
In targeted therapy, the action of drugs works as follows:
Block or turn off chemical signals that tell the cancerous cell to grow and divide
Change proteins within the cancerous cells so the cells die
Stop making new blood vessels to feed the cancerous cells
Trigger your immune system to kill the cancerous cells
Carry toxins to the cancerous cells to kill them, but not normal cells
Some targeted therapy drugs, for example, monoclonal antibodies, work in more than one way to control cancer cells and may also be considered immunotherapy because they boost the immune system.
What are the Differences Between Targeted Therapy and Chemotherapy?
Targeted therapy medications, like other medications used to treat cancer, are technically considered chemotherapy. But targeted therapy medications don’t work the same way as traditional or standard chemotherapy medications. Targeted therapy medications focus on certain changes that make cancer cells different from normal cells.
Targeted therapy medications have only an effect on the cancer cells and mostly leave normal, healthy cells alone. Traditional chemotherapy is cytotoxic to most cells, meaning it can damage healthy cells in addition to damaging and killing cancer cells.
Targeted therapy medications often work by blocking cancer cells from copying themselves. This means they can help stop a cancerous cell from dividing and making new cancer cells. Traditional chemotherapy, however, kills cancer cells that have already been made.
Currently, more and more people are turning to targeted therapy as a form of cancer treatment, as it is highly effective when compared to chemotherapy. While chemotherapy offers about a 40% success rate, targeted therapy is successful in up to 80% of cases.
Types of Targeted Therapy in Türkiye
There are many different types of targeted therapy medications. These medications are put into groups based on how they work. The two main groups of targeted therapy medications are monoclonal antibodies and small molecule inhibitors.
Monoclonal Antibodies
The body’s immune system makes proteins called antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies are manufactured (synthetic) versions of these natural antibodies. These synthetic antibodies lock onto a protein on the surface of cells or surrounding tissues to affect how cancer cells grow and survive.
Types of targeted therapy monoclonal antibodies include:
| Angiogenesis inhibitors | These medications reduce the blood supply to a tumor to slow or stop it from growing. Medications target various proteins linked with the growth of new blood vessels and stop their working. | bevacizumab |
| Anti-CD20monoclonal antibodies | These medications target a protein called CD20 found in some B-cell leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. | rituximab obinutuzumab |
| HER2-targeted agents | High levels of the protein HER2 cause cancer cells to grow. Some medications destroy the HER2-positive cancer cells or reduce their ability to divide. | trastuzumabpertuzumab |
Small Molecule Inhibitors
These drugs are small enough to get inside cancerous cells and block certain proteins that tell cancer cells to grow.
Types of small molecule inhibitors include:
| Type | How They Work | Examples |
| PARP inhibitors | These medications block poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), a protein that repairs damaged DNA in cancer cells. | olaparib |
| TKIs | Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) block proteins called tyrosine kinases. They block from sending signals that tell cancer cells to grow, multiply and spread. Without this signal, the cancer cells might die. | erlotinib sunitinib imatinib dasatinib |
| mTOR inhibitors | These medications block the mammalian targets of rapamycin (mTOR), a protein that tells cancer cells to grow and spread. | everolimus |
| CDK inhibitors | These medications block cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) from sending signals that tell cancer cells to grow, multiply and spread. Without this signal, the cancer cells can die. | palbociclib ribociclib abemaciclib |
2023 Cost of Targeted Therapy in Türkiye
All types of medical attention like targeted therapy are very affordable in Türkiye. Many factors are also included in determining the cost of targeted therapy in Türkiye. Your process with Healthy Türkiye will last from the time you decide to have targeted therapy in Türkiye until the time you are fully recovered even if you are back home. The exact targeted therapy procedure cost in Türkiye depends on the type of operation involved.
The cost of targeted therapy in Türkiye does not demonstrate many variations in 2023. Compared to costs in developed countries like the United States or the UK, targeted therapy costs in Türkiye are relatively low. So, it’s no wonder patients from across the world visit Türkiye for targeted therapy procedures. However, the price is not the only factor affecting choices. We suggest looking for hospitals that are safe and have targeted therapy reviews on Google. When people decide to seek medical help for targeted therapy, they will not only have low-cost procedures in Türkiye, but also the safest and best treatment.
At clinics or hospitals contracted with Healthy Türkiye, patients will receive the best-targeted therapy from specialist doctors in Türkiye at affordable rates. Healthy Türkiye teams to provide medical attention targeted therapy procedures and high-quality treatment to patients at a minimum cost. When you contact Healthy Türkiye assistants, you can get free information about the cost of targeted therapy in Türkiye and what this cost covers.
Why Is Targeted Therapy Cheaper in Türkiye?
One of the main considerations before traveling abroad for targeted therapy is the cost-effectiveness of the whole process. Many patients think that when they add flight tickets and hotel expenses to their targeted therapy costs, it will become very expensive to travel, which is not true. Contrary to popular belief, round-trip flight tickets to Türkiye for targeted therapy can be booked very affordably.
In this case, assuming you are staying in Türkiye for your targeted therapy, your total travel expense of flight tickets and accommodation will only cost less than any other developed country, which is nothing compared to the amount that you are saving. The question “why is targeted therapy cheaper in Türkiye?” is so common between patients or people simply curious about getting their medical treatment in Türkiye. When it comes to targeted therapy prices in Türkiye, there are 3 factors allowing cheaper prices:
The currency exchange is favorable for whoever looking for targeted therapy has a euro, dollar, or pound;
The lower cost of living and cheaper overall medical expenses such as targeted therapy;
For targeted therapy, incentives are given by the Turkish Government to medical clinics working with international clients;
All these factors allow for cheaper targeted therapy prices, but let’s be clear, these prices are cheaper for people with strong currencies (as we said, euro, dollar, Canadian dollar, pound, etc).
Every year, thousands of patients from all over the world come to Türkiye to get targeted therapy. The success of the healthcare system has increased in recent years, especially for targeted therapy. It’s easy to find well-educated and English-speaking medical professionals in Türkiye for all kinds of medical treatment such as targeted therapy
Why Choose Türkiye for Targeted Therapy?
In Türkiye, targeted therapy is used to treat various kinds of cancers which include breast cancer, blood cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer. Different types of this therapy for cancer treatment are used which include monoclonal antibodies, small-molecular medications, and immunotherapeutic medications. Cancer treatment in Turkiye meets international standards with the best working staff and a team of experienced doctors and surgeons offering their high-quality services to patients from around the world. All the treatment services are generally provided under one roof of the oncology center, accurate diagnoses are made then a treatment plan is administered.
Other advantages that make Türkiye stand out in the targeted therapy can also be mentioned. There are cheap drugs, low-cost treatments, and affordable accommodations. Türkiye has the best hospitals and specialists in the world that offer target therapy at an affordable cost.
Also, Türkiye is one of the safest countries where foreign patients come for target therapy. Among the reasons for this, are our clinics, and our modern international techniques. In addition, hospitals and doctors are frequently inspected by the Ministry of Health in terms of security, and service standards.
Is Targeted Therapy Safe in Türkiye?
Did you know Türkiye is one of the most visited destinations for targeted therapy in the world? It is ranked one of the most visited tourist destinations for targeted therapy. Over the years it has also come to be a very popular medical tourism destination too with many tourists coming in for targeted therapy. There are so many reasons why Türkiye stands out as a leading destination for targeted therapy. Because Türkiye is both safe and easy to travel to too with a regional airport hub and flight connections to pretty much everywhere, it is preferred for targeted therapy.
The best hospitals in Türkiye have experienced medical staff and specialists who have performed thousands of medical services such as targeted therapy. All procedures and coordination related to targeted therapy are controlled by the Ministry of Health in accordance with the law. Over many years, the greatest progress in medicine has been observed in the field of targeted therapy. Türkiye is known among foreign patients for its great opportunities in the area of targeted therapy.
To emphasize, besides the price itself, the key factor in selecting a destination for targeted therapy is certainly the standard of medical services, the hospital staff’s high expertise, hospitality, and the safety of the country.
All-Inclusive Packages For Targeted Therapy in Türkiye
Healthy Türkiye offers all-inclusive packages for targeted therapy in Türkiye at much lower prices. Extremely professional and experienced doctors and technicians carry out high-quality targeted therapy. The cost of targeted therapy in European countries can be quite expensive, especially in the UK. Healthy Türkiye provides cheap all-inclusive packages for a long and short stay of targeted therapy in Türkiye. Because of many factors, we can provide you with many opportunities for your targeted therapy in Türkiye.
The price of targeted therapy differs from other countries due to medical fees, staff labor prices, exchange rates, and market competition. You can save much more in targeted therapy compared to other countries in Türkiye. When you purchase a targeted therapy all-inclusive package with Healthy Türkiye our healthcare team will present hotels for you to choose from. In targeted therapy travel, you will have the price of your stay included in the all-inclusive package cost.
In Türkiye, when you purchase targeted therapy all-inclusive packages through Healthy Türkiye, you will always receive VIP transfers. These are provided by Healthy Türkiye, which is contracted with highly qualified hospitals for targeted therapy in Türkiye. Healthy Türkiye teams will organize everything about targeted therapy for you and have you picked up from the airport and safely brought to your accommodation.
Once settled in the hotel, you will be transferred to and from the clinic or hospital for targeted therapy. After your targeted therapy has been successfully completed, the transfer team will return you to the airport in time for your flight home. In Türkiye, all packages of targeted therapy can be arranged upon request, which relaxes the minds of our patients. You can reach out Healthy Türkiye for everything you need to know about targeted therapy in Türkiye. You can reach out Healthy Türkiye for everything you need to know about targeted therapy in Türkiye.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can have side effects throughout your treatment. Target therapy side effects vary from patient to patient. Most targeted therapy side effects go away a few months after you finish the treatment.
Targeted therapy is an effective cancer treatment for many patients. The success rate of targeted therapy varies significantly. The results depend on the cancer type and cancer stage.
Targeted therapy’s major benefit is that it can kill cancer cells without damaging healthy normal cells. It can also block cancer cells from developing. Healthcare providers can recommend targeted therapies when other treatments haven’t been effective.
Some types of targeted therapy can affect the immune system. They target a specific part of a cancer cell or a certain protein or enzyme that is on the surface of a cancer cell. Finding these targets helps the immune system see the cancer cells easier to attack them.
Targeted therapies are increasingly used with a palliative intent to control tumor growth, improve quality of life, and prolong survival.
Targeted cancer drugs work by ‘targeting’ those differences that help a cancer cell to survive and develop. They are one of the main treatments for some cancers. For example, advanced melanoma and some types of leukemia.
Hair and eyelash changes: Targeted therapy drugs can cause hair loss and gray across the scalp, as well as reduced hair on arms and legs. It also can lead to increased growth and curling of eyelashes and eyebrows and increased facial hair growth.
Targeted therapies are approved for more than 15 types of cancer, including breast, prostate, colon, and lung cancers. But they only work if the tumor has the right target. And targeted therapies can often stop working if the target changes or your cancer finds a way around the treatment.
Trastuzumab targets a cell-signaling protein called HER2 that is overactive in about 25 percent of breast cancers. Other targeted therapies include lapatinib for breast cancer; crizotinib for lung cancer; bevacizumab for lung and colon cancer; and sorafenib for liver and kidney cancer.