Cancer is one of the most common causes of death in the population. So, in 2021, more than 9 million people died from this disease in the world. The most common type of disease is lung cancer, more than 1/5 of cases are caused by lung cancer. Lung cancer treatment in Israel is a priority task at the state level. The country is constantly developing and introducing new methods of therapy and drugs, innovative hardware for early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Stages and types of the disease
Under the generalized name "lung cancer" is a group of malignant tumors that develop from the cells of the lungs and bronchi. Modern oncology classifies the disease according to the localization of manifestation and the degree of development.
Depending on the place of origin of oncopathology, the following types of cancer are distinguished:
- central, in which the neoplasm is located in the center of the lung and affects the large bronchi. In the course of the development of the pathological process, the tumor can block the lumen of the bronchus;
- peripheral, in which the tumor develops from the epithelial cells of the smaller bronchi or is localized in the lung parenchyma. This type of disease is characterized by the absence of symptoms for a long time, therefore, peripheral lung cancer is diagnosed, as a rule, at advanced stages;
- massive (mixed) - mediastinal cancer that occurs in the apex of the lung.
Malignant neoplasms of the lungs are fast-growing tumors prone to early metastasis (the formation of distant secondary foci of the pathological process). Depending on the prevalence of the neoplasm and the presence of metastases, the following stages of the disease are distinguished:
- 0 - the earliest, asymptomatic stage. Diagnosis of neoplasms with fluorography is difficult due to the small size of the tumor, the lymph nodes are not affected.
- 1 - neoplasm not more than 3 centimeters, tissue of the lymph nodes and pleura in the pathological process. When lung cancer is diagnosed at this stage, the prognosis is usually good.
- 2 - the size of the tumor is not more than 3-5 cm, metastases are recorded in the tissues of nearby lymph nodes.
- 3A stage. The size of the malignant neoplasm is more than 5 centimeters, metastases are found when examining the lymph nodes and bronchi, the pleura and chest wall tissues are involved in the pathological process.
- 3B - in addition to the signs characteristic of stage 3A, metastatic lesions are recorded in the esophagus, heart, spine and blood vessels.
- 4 - metastases are common in all organs. The prognosis is unfavorable.
Depending on the type of cells that make up the tumor, lung cancer is classified into small cell, non-small cell, mesothelioma.
Small cell carcinoma is the most common, almost 80% of all diagnosed cases are in it. Morphologically, small cell carcinoma is subdivided into:
- oat cell carcinoma;
- intermediate cell type cancer;
- mixed (combined) oat cell carcinoma.
Non-small cell carcinoma also has several varieties. Allocate:
- squamous carcinoma;
- adenocarcinoma;
- large cell carcinoma.
Diagnostics of lung cancer in clinics of Israel
Due to the nature of the disease, severe symptoms such as hemoptysis, pain, cough, weight loss, and increased fatigue appear in the later stages of the disease. Diagnosis of lung cancer in Israel is aimed at early detection of pathology.
To make the correct diagnosis, the following measures are used:
- A biopsy is the most reliable analysis of a tissue sample taken from the focus of the tumor process, which helps to establish its benignity or malignancy. In Israeli clinics, the sampling of material for subsequent pathological analysis is carried out under the control of ultrasound or computed tomography. Types of biopsy: bronchoscopy (through the patient's mouth or nose), medianoscopy (through a small incision in the chest), aspiration (performed with a special needle through a puncture of the chest), surgical biopsy (performed during an open operation). With the help of a biopsy, not only the type of tumor is determined, but also its sensitivity to drugs.
- PET-CT - Positron Emission Computed Tomography - is a modern high-precision technique that determines not only the presence of a neoplasm and the prevalence of a tumor process. Before the PET-CT scan, a special drug is injected into the patient's body, which accumulates most actively in the pathologically altered organs and tissue sites, therefore, not only the tumor, but also metastases is visualized on the tomogram.
- Magnetic resonance imaging.
- Multilayer CT scan (spiral computed tomography).
- Chest X-ray to look for any neoplasms in the lung tissue.
- Sputum cytological analysis. Analysis of the discharge during coughing helps to identify the malignant course of the pathological process.
Lung cancer therapy and surgery
Cancer treatment in Israel is one of the most demanded areas of medical tourism. For the treatment of patients with lung cancer in the clinics of the country, the most advanced methods are used that allow you to effectively get rid of the disease or significantly improve the condition of patients.
Many of the drugs used in cancer treatment are created by Israeli scientists. All medicines undergo multilevel quality control, so the treatment of lung cancer in Israel excludes the use of counterfeit medicines.
The choice of a strategy for the treatment of lung cancer will depend on various factors: the stage of the disease, the prevalence of the pathological process, the patient's age, and the general state of his health.
Depending on the indications, therapeutic or surgical treatment is prescribed, and, if necessary, their effective combination.
Surgery
During the operation, the affected lung or part of it and nearby lymph nodes are removed (to prevent tumor recurrence). Thanks to the development and improvement of spinal surgery, the treatment of Pancost cancer in Israel in the case when a tumor of the apex of the lung invades the spinal column is no longer considered futile. During the operation, oncologists can remove a lung, and spinal surgeons can remove the affected fragment of the spine, followed by its reconstruction. In addition to surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used to treat this type of cancer.
If the disease is detected at an early stage, oncooperations on the central part of the lung in Israel can be performed using a thoracoscope or endoscope. Such operations are rightfully considered the most sparing, low-traumatic, giving the minimum percentage of complications in the postoperative period.
Lobectomy - surgery to remove one lobe of the lung; surgery is indicated if cancer is found in the early stages.
If a tumor of a large volume is detected, pneumonectomy (pulmonectomy) is performed - an operation during which the entire lung is removed.
In combination with the surgical method, the treatment of bronchial cancer in Israel involves the use of:
- electrocoagulation (destruction of a tumor by the action of an electric current);
- diathermy (destruction of tumor cells by current to restore the lumen in the bronchi when it is filled with a tumor);
- photodynamic effects on pathological tissue sites;
- cryoablation (freezing).
Therapy
Therapeutic treatments include:
- chemotherapy;
- radiation therapy;
- immunotherapy.
Chemotherapy is used when surgical intervention is impossible to reduce the size of the malignant formation before the operation and to destroy the malignant cells that have spread throughout the body as a result of the disease.
Chemotherapy drugs used in Israeli clinics suppress the growth of malignant cells without significantly damaging healthy organs.
Immunotherapy is a relatively new method of treatment, most effective in the initial stages of the disease as an adjunct to surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Treatment of squamous cell lung cancer in Israel can be carried out with the help of new immune drugs "Opdivo" and "Keytruda". Immunotherapy can be used as a treatment for unresectable metastatic cancer.
Radiation therapy is most effective for aggressive forms of cancer. Depending on the indications, you can use:
- brachytherapy - the radiation source is placed in the immediate vicinity of the tumor localization;
- external radiation therapy - the source of radioactive rays is located at some distance from the patient's body.
In some Israeli clinics, the Novalis Tx system is used in radiation therapy, which provides high-precision radiation treatment with a three-dimensional beam direction into the tumor.
Price of diagnosis and treatment
The cost of treating lung cancer in Israel varies depending on the number of diagnostic measures, the need for surgery, and methods of therapeutic treatment. Each specific case of the disease, the stage of the disease, the prevalence of the pathological process, the presence of contraindications in the patient require an individual approach and consideration, therefore, the current prices for the treatment of lung cancer in Israel can be determined only after consultation with an oncologist.
Many patients choose treatment in Israel, even if the disease is diagnosed at the 3rd and 4th stages.
The latest techniques used in the country's clinics allow recording even the smallest reactions of the body to the therapy. The level of development of the country's pharmaceutical industry allows the use of effective pain relievers.
The question of how much the treatment of stage 4 lung cancer in Israel costs is influenced by the same factors as the cost of treatment of lung cancer in the initial stages. Palliative treatment in Israeli clinics is aimed at effectively eliminating the symptoms of the disease, reducing pain, improving the quality of life, and prolonging the life of the patient in the last stages of the disease.
Clinic selection
Many patients are interested in the question, which clinic in Israel for the treatment of lung cancer is the best? Below is a list of clinics that guarantee the highest professional level of treatment:
- Assuta complex;
- center them. Sourasky (Top Ichilov);
- Hadassah Cancer Center;
- hospital "Rambam";
- clinic them. Haim Shiba;
- oncological center "Herzliya".
Preparing for the trip
If you or someone from your loved ones needs treatment in Israel, you should understand that organizing a trip is a troublesome and time-consuming business. It is necessary to choose not only a clinic, but also doctors with the necessary qualifications, to translate medical documentation into English or Hebrew.
After agreeing on the possibility and cost of treatment in the chosen clinic, you need to take care of unhindered entry into the country. A patient arriving in Israel for treatment must present:
- health insurance policy;
- return plane tickets to return to the country of residence;
- a document confirming the availability of a place of residence for accompanying persons;
- a letter from an Israeli clinic on letterhead;
- a document confirming solvency.
If the treatment period exceeds 90 days, a visa will be required, even if a visa-free agreement has been signed between the governments of your country and Israel.
Lung cancer is a disease, the treatment of which does not allow delay: the earlier it is started, the more the patient has a chance of recovery. Therefore, if you are not sure that you can cope with the organization of the trip on your own, you can contact the mediators in the field of medical tourism - they will take care of all the issues.
Finally
Patients who have undergone lung cancer treatment in Israel note the high quality of medical care, the availability of modern medical equipment, the high qualifications of doctors, and an individual approach to choosing a treatment protocol. Another advantage of treatment in Israel is the availability of Russian-speaking medical personnel.
