Cancer Treatment in Turkey
A second opinion and continuing care, explained without pressure.
Turkey has invested heavily in oncology infrastructure, and several Ministry of Health licensed centres offer tumor surgery, robotic cancer surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and bone marrow or stem cell transplant to international patients, often at a fraction of Western prices and with shorter waiting times than many home systems. Most patients who reach out about cancer treatment are not choosing blind: they already have a diagnosis, and what they need is a second opinion or a specific advanced treatment their home system cannot offer quickly. Because oncology decisions are rarely simple and treatment plans change as pathology results come in, Navivera’s role here is deliberately narrow: connect you with a licensed multidisciplinary tumor board, make sure your existing pathology and imaging are reviewed properly, and coordinate logistics — never to promise a specific outcome or push you toward any one treatment.
Procedures covered
- Tumor Surgery
- Surgical removal of a tumor, planned and performed by a surgical oncology team specific to the cancer type and location.
- Robotic Cancer Surgery
- Minimally invasive tumor removal using robotic-assisted instruments, which can mean less blood loss and a shorter hospital stay for suitable cases.
- Chemotherapy
- Drug treatment that targets cancer cells throughout the body, given in cycles over weeks or months, often alongside surgery or radiotherapy.
- Radiotherapy
- Targeted radiation to destroy cancer cells in a specific area, typically delivered in a series of sessions over one to several weeks.
- Bone Marrow / Stem Cell Transplant
- Replacement of diseased or damaged bone marrow, used for certain blood cancers and other conditions, requiring a longer, closely monitored hospital stay.
Why patients look at Turkey for cancer care
Several Turkish hospitals hold both Ministry of Health authorisation for international patients and internationally recognised accreditation such as JCI, and have built dedicated oncology centres with multidisciplinary tumor boards and modern radiotherapy equipment. For many patients the appeal is not lower standards elsewhere but faster access: shorter waiting times for surgery or radiotherapy, at a cost considerably below the US, UK or Western Europe.
What we can help with, and what we deliberately do not do
We help patients who already have a diagnosis and want an independent second opinion from a licensed tumor board, and patients whose care team abroad has recommended a specific treatment not readily available at home. We do not diagnose cancer, do not promise a cure or a specific outcome, and do not push any patient toward surgery, chemotherapy or any other treatment — that decision belongs to you and your oncologist, informed by a tumor board’s recommendation. If a case is not one we believe Navivera can serve honestly, we will say so rather than take it on.
How pricing works, and why you will not find a price list here
Oncology pricing depends on the cancer type and stage, the specific treatment combination, how many cycles or sessions are needed, and whether inpatient care is required. Because a treatment plan can only be set once a tumor board has reviewed your full pathology and imaging, there is no meaningful single price to publish; a hospital that quotes cancer treatment without seeing your pathology report first is a warning sign, not a good deal. We ask the tumor board to review your case and return a written plan and cost estimate, usually within a few days rather than 24 hours given the review involved.
What to check before you book anywhere
Given the stakes, verifying the provider matters more here than almost anywhere else. Ask directly:
- Is the hospital authorised by the Ministry of Health for international patients, and does it hold additional accreditation such as JCI?
- Will your case be reviewed by a multidisciplinary tumor board (surgical, medical and radiation oncology together), not a single doctor?
- Does the centre have on-site pathology capable of confirming your existing diagnosis, and will they request your original slides or blocks?
- What is the plan for continuing care and communication with your oncologist at home?
You can check the first question yourself: the Ministry of Health publishes its list of certified healthcare providers and facilitators on HealthTürkiye. Navivera is happy to be checked there too.
How Navivera approaches it
We only work with hospitals holding Ministry of Health authorisation for international patients and a functioning multidisciplinary tumor board. Your Care Navigator collects your existing pathology, imaging and treatment history, arranges the tumor board review, and coordinates logistics and continuing communication with your home oncologist — while leaving every treatment decision to you and your medical team.
What to expect: from records review to treatment plan
- Before you flyYour pathology report, imaging and treatment history are sent for tumor board review. This can take several days, not 24 hours, because it involves specialist review rather than a quote.
- Days 1 to 2Arrival, further tests if the board needs them (imaging, blood work, sometimes a biopsy review), and a face-to-face meeting with the oncology team.
- Treatment periodLength varies enormously by treatment: a single surgery may mean a 7 to 10 day trip; radiotherapy courses can mean several weeks of daily sessions; chemotherapy cycles may be split between trips.
- Before flying homeA written summary of what was done and a follow-up plan is prepared for your oncologist at home.
Ongoing care: what continues after you return
- Immediately afterWound care after surgery, or managing side effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, following the treating team’s instructions.
- Weeks to monthsContinuing scans, blood tests and follow-up appointments, ideally shared between the treating centre in Turkey and your oncologist at home.
- Long termSurveillance follow-up according to your cancer type and stage, coordinated with your home healthcare team using the records and summary you bring back.
Cancer treatment in Turkey: frequently asked questions
Can Navivera get me a second opinion on my diagnosis?
Yes. We arrange for a licensed multidisciplinary tumor board to review your existing pathology and imaging and give an independent recommendation, which you can then discuss with your own oncologist.
Does Navivera diagnose cancer or recommend a specific treatment?
No. We are not a medical provider. The tumor board makes clinical recommendations; the treatment decision is always yours together with your doctors.
How long does treatment take?
It depends entirely on the treatment: a single surgery may be a short trip, while radiotherapy or chemotherapy courses can mean weeks of sessions, sometimes split across more than one visit.
Will my oncologist at home be kept informed?
Yes, and this is something we insist on. We coordinate a written summary and results transfer so your home oncologist can continue your care with full information.
Why does the timeline say "several days" instead of the usual 24-hour quote?
Because a responsible oncology quote can only be given after specialists review your actual pathology and imaging, not from a description of your diagnosis. We would rather take the extra days than promise something that changes once your records are seen.
This page is general information prepared by Navivera to help you plan; it is not medical advice and Navivera does not diagnose or treat cancer. Your diagnosis and treatment plan are decided by a licensed oncology team after reviewing your full medical history, pathology and imaging. Last reviewed: .