Treatment of glioblastoma

Our daughter was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer aged 18. In the UK she was told to make memories and given 6 to 14 months. Not good enough.! So after much research and speaking to people, IOZK in Cologne, Germany caught our attention and thank God it did. We made an appointment and met Professor Stefaan Van Gool who explained the ethos and procedures to us and offered us a plan which made complete sense. We started to make regular visits to Germany, even through lockdown and I can only say good things about everyone at IOZK, they were just brilliant. Over the next four years Laura’s health improved dramatically and she was an able to go back to University and complete her degree course. We never once thought we could beat this disease, but we did give it a real fight and this was undoubtably down to the kindness and expert medical knowledge and care given to Laura by IOZK.

Unfortunately, the cancer did win in the end as we knew it would, but Laura lived for nearly 5 years post diagnosis. I believe this was down to IOZK who are at least 5 years ahead of anything being done in the UK to treat Glioblastomas. Laura believed this too and she always felt better after returning from treatment. Having read some of the previous reviews I think it should be pointed out that IOZK is governed strictly and is not allowed to make profit, it has to break even and plough the money back into research. I would also like to add that even though Laura was under the supervision of many consultants in the UK, it was the straight forward advice and help we received from Professor Van Gool which we valued the most. IOZK was singularly the best decision we made in trying to help our daughter fight cancer.

I took my son to treat glioblastoma of the brain in Turkey. We were admitted to the oncology department of the Anadolu hospital. On the very first day, we were consulted by Kaiykhan Engin, a professor, a radiation oncologist, known all over the world. Then they did an MRI and we consulted with oncologist Yeshim Yildirim and doctors of other specialties. After the examination, we decided to use a cyber-knife, which, without surgery, selectively kills cancer cells and does not touch healthy ones.

I liked everything in Anadolu: the professionalism of doctors, the respect with which the employees of the center treat each other, and the caring attitude towards patients. My son and I feel great gratitude to all the hospital staff for their compassion, humanity, and professionalism.

We already have a negative experience of treatment in Russia. The operation to remove glioblastoma was not only unsuccessful, it turned out that the tumor was not even affected, removing even healthy areas, and it continued to grow after surgery.

We decided to continue the treatment at the University Hospital in Frankfurt am Main. After the operation, the removed tumor tissue was examined in the laboratory and the diagnosis of glioblastoma was confirmed. Based on histology, a suitable chemotherapy protocol was selected. We had to continue the treatment in Russia, as our possibilities were limited. The most important thing is that they did the main thing for us in Germany.

When they found a tumor in my brain, we went to Israel for treatment in a week. We were met at the airport by the staff of the Assuta clinic, who provided a transfer and organized our entire stay in the hospital. In two days, I went through as many examinations as I probably have not gone through in my entire life. In Russia, all this would obviously have taken me several months. Rachel Grossman operated on me. The operation was difficult as the neoplasm was located in an inconvenient place. In fact, Dr. Grossman gave me a second life. I am very grateful to her for this.

My brother Igor was examined in Israel for a malignant brain tumor. From the very beginning, everything in Israel was organized at the highest level: we were met at the airport, taken to a hotel near the hospital, and settled in a double room, which was pre-booked for us.

The doctor who consulted my brother is a professional in his field and I got the impression that he has a wealth of experience in the treatment of brain cancer. The doctor ordered additional examinations and gave recommendations. Now we are implementing the recommendations and we really hope that they will help my brother overcome the disease.

When our son was diagnosed with glioblastoma, our life turned into an endless wandering around hospitals in the hope of finding an opportunity to save the child. Several hospitalizations in the best hospitals in Belarus did not give anything at all. In desperation, we began to look for opportunities to be treated abroad. Of course, the first thing that came to mind was Israel.

When we arrived at the hospital, we were met by the caring staff, settled in a 2-room apartment, we were fed 3 times a day. We were accompanied to all examinations and many of the staff speak Russian.

I was very touched by the attitude of Turkish doctors towards children. They will hug and kiss and talk to them. After this, my son stopped being afraid of doctors, although he used to be constantly under stress. Now he is looking forward to our next consultation.

In general, if someone has doubts about treatment in Turkey, then it is very in vain. Medicine here is at such a level that we in the post-Soviet space could not even dream of.

My health problems started with headaches. Then there were problems with my memory, and systematic migraines simply made me disabled. I went to a neurologist and passed through all the tests. But the physician was unable to diagnose.

It’s good that I had the opportunity to go to Israel for an examination. I was diagnosed with glioblastoma on the third day of my stay at Top Assuta. The operation was carried out quickly. And after it, I underwent a course of radiotherapy to finish off the cancer cells that could remain after the operation. I also decided to undergo rehabilitation in Assuta in order to exclude possible complications after brain surgery. I returned home to my wife and children as a healthy man.

I went to Israel for treatment with my husband, who was diagnosed with brain cancer. I immediately decided to treat him abroad. We have chosen the excellent clinic Top Assuta. The clinic staff took care of the entire organization of the trip and our stay in the hospital. The staff psychologist who worked with my husband was very helpful. Doctors and nurses also gave us moral support, which enabled us to get through those difficult times. We finished the treatment a couple of years ago and still remember with gratitude the hospital staff and the warm atmosphere they managed to create for sick people.