Breast cancer begins when cells in the breast start dividing indefinitely and form a tumor. It is the second most common cancer, and the most commonly occurring cancer in women but can also occur in men. Cancer usually starts in the milk ducts or sometimes in the glands that produce milk.
WHO IS IT FOR?
Patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS
Along with the general risks associated with surgery such as bleeding, infection and pain other side effects include loss of/change in sensation in chest and swelling in the arms.
Radiotherapy side effects include: swelling, fatigue, changes in skin, future problems with breastfeeding, damages to nerves in the arm, pain, infection and seroma.
Side effects of chemotherapy include hair loss, nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, fatigue and change in menstruation and fertility.
BEFORE TREATMENT
Have a initial consultation and physical examination with your doctor. Follow up with any other diagnostic tests that have been recommended.
Follow pre-op guidelines if you are undergoing surgery.
Arrange for some help at home whilst you’re undergoing treatment.
DURING TREATMENT
Whilst undergoing surgery, you will be placed under general or local anaesthesia.
During your radiotherapy sessions, it may be comforting to have a loved one or caregiver to wait out for you.
AFTER TREATMENT
Adhere to post-op guidelines put forth by your surgeon.
If you are suffering from any strong side effects of treatment, ask your physician if they can provide any additional support.
Rest as much as possible, and try to keep your stress levels low. These will help speed up your recovery.
Spend time with family and friends. You can also seek out emotional support through professional counselors or at a support group.
An abdominoplasty – most commonly referred to as a tummy tuck – is a cosmetic procedure that people undergo to remove scars, excess skin, fat and stretch marks. The treatment also involves tightening the abdominal muscles for improved definition.
WHO IS IT FOR?
People who are conscious about excess fat, skin, scars or a lack of definition around the tummy.
SUCCESS
The success rate of the tummy tuck is extremely high. However, occasionally patients aren’t happy with the results, and feel that they need a further operation.
RECOVERY TIME
Avoid putting strain on your stitches for the first few weeks
Limit strenuous activity and exercise for 4 to 6 weeks
Wear a special corset for the first 6 weeks
Fully recovery: 6 weeks for most people
POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS
Difficulty standing straight
Pain
Bruising
Numbness around the tummy
Swelling and scarring
Tummy cramps
Buildup of fluid
Bulges under the skin
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS
Cool Sculpting
Liposuction
Gastric Balloon
BEFORE TREATMENT
Don’t eat within 12 hours of surgery.
Clean your home thoroughly, as you won’t be able to do so for at least two weeks after surgery.
Pack a bag for a three-night stay in hospital.
Get all your questions answered by your surgical team.
Discuss your pain-relief options with your surgeon.
Provide a full medical history, including details of allergies and pre-existing conditions.
Organise a ride home for when you’re discharged.
Organise some help with cooking, cleaning and other household tasks.
DURING TREATMENT
Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
Remove all large jewelry or leave it at home.
Remove fake nails and nail polish (you may have a pulse monitor put onto your finger during surgery).
AFTER TREATMENT
Follow your surgeon’s advice on what you can and can’t do after surgery.
Let your family and friends help you at home.
Set up your bed, chairs and sofas for rest — using pillows to prop up your back and knees.
Maintain a healthy, balanced diet — it’s crucial to recovery.
Avoid alcohol and smoking.
Move around as much as you can (your doctor will advise you on the best exercise for recovery).
Take at least two weeks off work. If you perform manual tasks, you may need longer.
Medical tourism is a term for people traveling to another country primarily to undergo medical care. The scope of medical care may include the diagnoses and treatments of serious illnesses like cancer, cosmetic surgeries and other aesthetical treatments to enhance one’s physical appearance or different types of comprehensive medical checkup for healthy individuals. Then, after the primary purpose of the travel is done and depending on the physical condition of the medical tourist, he or she may explore the tourist spots before going back to their home country.
Almost all kinds of healthcare services are offered by various countries and medical institutions
Why people should consider having treatment abroad?
Medical tourists used to come from less-developed countries to well-known medical facilities in highly-developed countries. However, in recent years, there has been an increasing number of medical tourists from highly-developed to developing countries.
Reasons for Having Medical Treatment Abroad
Low prices for high-quality healthcare
This is the reason cited by most people who think of having medical treatment abroad. There are significant savings as shown by the following examples:
Heart bypass surgery would cost around $129,700 in the USA and $17,400.in Germany.
Medical tourists from the United States can save from 50 to 65% if they go to Turkey for their medical treatments. Medical procedures are generally cheaper in Turkey because of lower labor cost, efficiency of operation and government support.
Highly-qualified Doctors and Modern, Well-Equipped Healthcare Facilities
When you’re sick you want to make sure that you’re being treated by competent doctors in hospitals with adequate diagnostic and other medical equipment. The standard of healthcare is one of the reasons why some patients in highly-developed countries are hesitant to have treatment abroad.
Medical tourists who decide to have medical treatment in Turkey will be pleasantly surprised to know that there are 46 JCI accredited healthcare facilities as of April 2018. What does a JCI accreditation mean? It means that the hospital is at least at par with the standards of the hospitals in the United States.
The Joint Commission International (JCI) is a US-based organization established in 1994 “to provide international clients education and consulting services.” Below are three of several outcomes expected from a JCI-accredited hospital:
A safe environment that reduces the risk for care recipients and caregivers.
Improved outcomes and patient satisfaction.
Enhanced efficiency
Reduced costs through standardized care
To maintain its JCI accreditation, healthcare facilities have to “keep up to date with new standards” and continuous performance improvement.
Other hospitals in Turkey are certified by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JACHO) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). An ISO-certified hospital has a quality management system that promotes continual improvement for customer or patient satisfaction.
In addition to certifications by international organizations, Turkey’s Ministry of Health and the independent Turkish Medical Associations sets and monitors the local standards and guidelines for the medical practitioners, hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Availability of A Wide Range of Medical Specialties
Illnesses need immediate medical attention. Some people consider medical treatment abroad because they could not get the needed treatment immediately in their home country. They are on a waiting list or the treatment is not available at all.
People who try to check with hospitals in Turkey, will be happy to know that there is almost no waiting time for the diagnosis or treatment of a wide range of illnesses. The country’s capability to provide high-quality healthcare services to medical tourists is the result of its aggressive reforms through the Health Transformation Program (HTP) and public-private partnerships (PPPs) that started in 2003.
Hospitals and expensive medical equipment need investments. Government legislation allowed the Ministry of Health to use PPPs in building hospitals and health campuses nationwide.
As more healthcare facilities were completed, they were able to offer more hospital beds and medical specialties.
Beyond Medical Services
In addition to high-quality treatment from well-trained doctors, medical tourist will appreciate the extra services in hospitals abroad that may include the following:
Enough nurses to perform tasks that are performed by nursing assistants or aides in US or UK hospitals.
Being escorted instead of just being provided with directions to other areas in the hospital.
Doctors have more time to spend time with each patient.
More accommodating hospital personnel.
Reminder:
Before deciding to have medical treatment abroad, you should be ready to pay the medical bill out of pocket. If you have health insurance, ask the insurance company if your medical expensed will be covered. Can you file a claim for the reimbursement of your medical bills abroad?
