Affecting a vital organ, various types of heart neoplasms pose a real threat to the patient's life, requiring prompt and effective therapy. Comprehensive treatment of heart tumours in Israel includes progressive surgical and conservative methods that allow for the elimination of the tumour, alleviation of painful symptoms, and normalization of the patient's condition. Israeli cardiac surgeons and oncologists possess a high level of qualification and many years of experience, undergoing internships in the largest clinics in the world. Many of them are leading specialists in this field of medicine, respected in other countries. Numerous reviews from patients who have undergone treatment in Israeli clinics testify to the high professionalism of the doctors.
Diagnosis of pathology at the initial stage is complicated by asymptomatic progression, resulting in patients seeking medical help only at an advanced stage. Israeli clinics are equipped with the latest high-tech equipment, allowing for diagnostic examinations to be conducted with exceptional accuracy. In medical centers in Israel, treatment of heart oncopathologies is successfully carried out even at late stages, deemed incurable in other countries. Studies show that therapy at an early stage of the disease ensures sustained remission or recovery in 75-80% of patients. The cost of treatment, which is significantly lower than in the USA and Europe, is accessible to most medical tourists.
Treatment Methods for Pathology
The choice of treatment methods depends on the type and nature of the neoplasm, its size and location, and several other factors. Maximum effectiveness is achieved with the appointment of combination therapy.
Surgical Treatment
Operative removal is indicated in the case of primary oncological formations of small size. If the tumour is localized on the surface of the organ and grows towards the pericardial cavity, the operation is performed endoscopically, requiring no large incisions. This gentle method has a minimal risk of bleeding and postoperative complications, as well as a shorter recovery period.
In the diagnosis of large oncological formations growing towards the inner part of the heart, open surgical intervention is indicated. In this case, the patient is most often connected to a heart-lung machine. This complex operation requires the highest level of skill and experience from the surgeon, and during the rehabilitation period, the patient remains in the cardiology department.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
In cases where there is a high risk of surgical intervention, the tumour is located in a hard-to-reach place, or when the patient has other contraindications for surgery, the neoplasm is removed using sessions of stereotactic surgery. This gentle procedure, which is highly effective, is not associated with the risk of bleeding and a prolonged postoperative period, and is performed using a CyberKnife system. The neoplasm is irradiated with low-dose radioactive beams emanating from multiple sources. By focusing directly in front of the tumour, they act on it with cumulative power. Thus, the oncological formation is irradiated with a high dose, which has a destructive effect, while the surrounding healthy tissues receive minimal radiation exposure.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy may be prescribed before surgical intervention to reduce the size of the neoplasm and facilitate its subsequent removal. After surgery, irradiation is performed to destroy individual malignant cells and prevent recurrence. Radiation sessions are also included in the course of palliative therapy, alleviating painful symptoms and improving the condition of inoperable patients at terminal stages.
External beam radiotherapy is conducted in Israeli clinics using modern equipment that ensures precise irradiation of the tumour while minimizing negative effects on healthy tissues. The latest technologies are employed, allowing for modulation of the radiation intensity across different areas of the neoplasm. Contact radiotherapy (brachytherapy) is highly effective and significantly improves prognosis. In this method, a radioactive isotope is introduced directly into the tumour tissues. Internal irradiation of the oncological formation has a destructive effect on pathological cells while not harming healthy tissues.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy courses are effective in cases of secondary oncological formations. Israeli clinics use the latest chemotherapeutic agents with minimal toxicity, which have a gentle effect on the patient's body and cause minimal mild side effects. Chemotherapy may be prescribed before surgery, after surgical treatment, and as a palliative method.
Immunotherapy
The use of immunotherapeutic agents based on monoclonal antibodies is highly effective at any stage of the disease, even late stages. When introduced into the body, the antibodies overcome the masking of malignant cells, recognize them, and stimulate their destruction by the patient's immune cells.
How Disease Diagnosis is Conducted
Comprehensive diagnostic examinations necessary for diagnosis and treatment planning are conducted in Israeli clinics, on average, within three days.
On the first day of their stay in the clinic, the patient consults with the treating oncologist. During the appointment, the doctor reviews the medical history, studies the patient's previous test results, conducts a physical examination, and prescribes necessary examinations.
The patient undergoes the prescribed examinations, which include:
- general and biochemical blood tests;
- blood test for specific tumour markers;
- ultrasound examination (US) of the heart;
- visual examinations (CT, MRI) of the heart;
- ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs;
- echocardiography;
- coronary angiography of the heart vessels.
A medical council, which includes the oncologist and cardiac surgeon along with several narrow-profile specialists, reviews the results of the examinations, makes a final diagnosis, and develops a treatment program.
How Much Does Treatment Cost
The final amount depends on the type and nature of the oncological formation, the stage of the disease, and several other factors, and is determined after the appointment of treatment procedures. In general, the cost of treatment in Israeli clinics is 30-50% lower than in Western European countries and the USA.
Advantages of Treatment in Israel
- Highly qualified experienced doctors, many of whom are world-renowned.
- Clinics equipped with the latest medical and diagnostic equipment.
- Professional execution of open-heart surgeries.
- Comfortable conditions for undergoing treatment.
- Affordable prices.
A heart tumour is not a death sentence; with timely initiation of comprehensive therapy, you can forget about the disease and return to an active life. So don't waste time, contact your chosen clinic and start treatment.