Cancer management has evolved from a symptom-only approach to a highly sensitive discipline targeting the biological basis of the disease, thanks to rapid advancements in medical technologies and molecular science in recent years. The Medical Oncology Department at Atlas University Hospital aims to develop personalized treatment strategies for each patient by utilizing advanced diagnostic methods that comprehensively analyze the molecular biology, genetic makeup, and tumor microenvironment of cancer cells.
Our multidisciplinary approach integrates surgical, radiation oncology, radiology, pathology, and supportive care teams to create scientifically based decision-making mechanisms at all stages of the treatment process. Our expert team, applying immunotherapy, targeted agents, and modern chemotherapy protocols in systemic treatments in accordance with current international guidelines, prioritizes not only disease control but also the preservation of patients’ quality of life, functional status, and psychosocial well-being.
What is Medical Oncology?
Medical oncology is a medical specialty based on tumor biology and molecular oncology that is responsible for the systemic treatment, long-term management, and multidisciplinary coordination of cancer diseases. This discipline aims to control the disease, prevent its spread, and reduce the risk of recurrence through a broad spectrum of treatments including cytotoxic chemotherapies, targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and innovative biological agents.
Medical oncologists assume a central expert role, planning personalized treatment strategies from the moment of diagnosis, managing decision-making processes within a multidisciplinary team, and coordinating the entire clinical journey, including post-treatment follow-up. Treatment approaches, developed in line with current scientific data, international guidelines, and individualized risk analyses, aim to both improve survival and preserve patients’ quality of life.
What are the fields of Medical Oncology?
Cancer is a complex disease that can arise in various organs, each exhibiting different characteristics. Medical oncologists are specialists who plan the most appropriate treatment based on the type of cancer, its stage, the patient’s age, comorbidities, and overall condition, and manage the entire process from beginning to end. The most common types of cancer encountered in daily practice can be listed as follows:
- Breast cancer
- Colon (bowel cancer)
- Lung cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Uterine and cervical cancer
- Throat cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Liver cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Melanoma (cilt kanseri)
- Stomach and esophageal cancer
- Gallbladder cancers
- Brain tumors
- Bone and soft tissue cancers (sarcomas)
Medical Oncology Treatment
Medical oncology treatment is a dynamic process shaped by the patient’s molecular biomarkers. Methods such as Liquid Biopsy , applied at Atlas University Hospital , allow us to analyze tumor DNA from blood in cases where obtaining a tissue sample is difficult. This technological capability enables the rapid identification of alternative “smart drug” options, even in cases resistant to standard treatments. The treatment plan is personalized, taking into account not only the patient’s physical data but also their psychological resilience and social life needs.
Treatment Methods Applied in the Medical Oncology Department
The modern treatment methodologies applied in our department are carried out within the framework of protocols determined by world oncology authorities (ASCO, ESMO):
- Chemotherapy: This involves administering cytotoxic drugs that directly target cancer cells, either intravenously or orally.
- Targeted Therapies: This is a smart molecule technology that locks onto specific mutations (EGFR, ALK, HER2, etc.) in the tumor while protecting healthy cells.
- Immunotherapy: These are checkpoint inhibitors that enable the immune system to perceive cancer as a “foreign” agent.
- Hormonal Therapies: These methods interrupt growth signals at a biochemical level in hormone-sensitive tumors.
- Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Therapy: These are strategic drug supports aimed at shrinking tumors before surgery or preventing recurrence after surgery.
Atlas University Hospital: Expert Assurance in the Fight Against Cancer
The Medical Oncology Department of Atlas University Hospital evaluates each patient through a multidisciplinary Tumor Board . Led by the medical oncology department, this board collaborates with gastrointestinal surgeons, breast surgeons, head and neck surgeons, gynecological oncologists, uro-oncologists, thoracic oncologists, nuclear medicine specialists, radiologists, and pathologists to determine the most scientifically sound approach. Combining technology with expert experience, our center is a healthcare partner concerned not only with the disease but also with the patient’s entire recovery process. We are here to support you with our expert team, offering the most up-to-date molecular options and scientific approaches in cancer treatment.
