Chemotherapy prices in Turkey
The average cost of a course of chemotherapy in Turkey is between £430 and £3,900. Six cycles are usually prescribed, although this number can vary depending on how the disease progresses. Depending on the stage of the cancer, some patients may need two different chemotherapy regimens.
| Chemotherapy in Turkey | £430 - £3,900 |
| Chemotherapy in the UK | Usually covered by your healthcare system |
If you would like to know what your own cover provides in your situation, check with the NHS.
Introduction
Treating cancer is a demanding task. The aim is to destroy every cancer cell so that it does not spread through the body. Specialists in oncology use different strategies to achieve this.
One of these is radiotherapy. This method damages the DNA of abnormal cells with ionising radiation, which stops them from acting. Oncologists may also plan surgery, which removes the malignant tumour.
Targeted therapy, which acts on a precise abnormality in the tumour cell, and immunotherapy, which works on the immune system so that it recognises the tumour, should also be mentioned. They are two distinct approaches, often confused with one another.
Chemotherapy completes this list. Turkey is one of the leading destinations for this type of cancer treatment and has attracted many international patients. The regimen, the number of cycles and the related laboratory monitoring are decided only after assessment and a multidisciplinary team meeting.
What is chemotherapy in Turkey ?
Chemo refers to drug treatment. It is intended to destroy cancer cells using one or more powerful medicines. These products can also slow their growth and stop them multiplying. They also prevent the abnormal cell from damaging nearby tissue.
The oncologist can use a range of anti-cancer substances. Each medicine, however, has to be selected according to several criteria, including :
- The type of cancer being treated,
- The stage the disease has reached,
- The patient’s general state of health.
There are currently several chemotherapy regimens. They are named after the initials of the medicines they use. These include :
- CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil),
- FEC (fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide), widely used in breast cancer treatment,
- CAPOX (capecitabine and oxaliplatin), used to treat cancers that develop in the bowel,
- FOLFOX (folinic acid, fluorouracil and oxaliplatin).
Chemotherapy in Turkey should be carried out in a hospital or a clinic, since the supervision of an experienced medical team is required. The doctor may make an exception in certain cases and allow the medicines to be given at the patient’s home. A qualified nurse is then needed.
Read our guide to bone marrow transplants in Turkey.
How does chemotherapy treatment in Turkey work ?
Preparation
The success of chemotherapy in Turkey depends on several factors, including the patient’s general state of health and the type of cancer. The doctor therefore needs to establish a sound diagnosis. They must examine the patient and arrange a series of medical tests, which may include:
- Toxicity tests,
- Genomic testing,
- Functional testing or phenotyping,
- Blood tests.
Treatment
Only the oncologist can decide whether chemotherapy can be given at the patient’s home. Everything depends on the type of medicine used and how it is given. The doctor may choose chemo treatment that is:
- Oral,
- Subcutaneous,
- Intramuscular,
- Intravenous,
- Intra-arterial,
- Into the peritoneum,
- Intrapleural,
- Intraventricular… and so on.
Treatment is given in cycles. The spacing of the sessions and the length of the breaks depend on the regimen chosen. The treatment-free period is needed to let the body recover. How often the cycles are given varies with the patient’s state of health. Chemotherapy in Turkey can be scheduled before or after surgery.
Recovery
The doctor offers supportive care to make the patient more comfortable after each chemo session. This may include anti-sickness medicines. The patient also needs to rest in order to recover quickly.
Read our guide to PET scans in Istanbul.
What are the risks, complications and side effects ?
Chemotherapy in Turkey can cause side effects. These vary with the substance used, the dose and the way the person’s body reacts to treatment. A meta-analysis of 4,179 patients puts peripheral neuropathy at 68.1% in the month after chemotherapy and at 30.0% six months later or more (95% CI 6.4 to 53.5)[1]. Common side effects include :
- Temporary hair loss,
- A fall in red blood cells, causing fatigue and anaemia,
- A fall in white blood cells, increasing the risk of infection,
- A fall in platelets, which can cause thrombocytopenia or bleeding,
- Mouth sores linked to fragile mucous membranes,
- Skin problems such as redness and dryness,
- Nausea,
- Sexual problems, very common in people who have had chemo based on hormonal treatments… and so on.
Why have chemotherapy in Turkey ?
Many international patients have chosen to have chemotherapy in Turkey. They come from different countries around the world and are treated in facilities that welcome international patients. Levels of equipment and accreditation vary from one facility to another, and that is what you check before choosing. Among those patients mention are :
- Florence Nightingale Hospital, a Joint Commission International accredited facility in Istanbul,
- Medical Anadolu centre in Kocaeli, which uses advanced technology and offers personalised treatment to each patient,
- Bahcelievler Medical Park Hospital in Istanbul, known for its excellent service,
- VM Medical Park Hospital Florya in Istanbul,
- Memorial Hospital in Istanbul, well known for its team of experienced oncologists,
- Medicana International Hospital in Ankara… and so on.
Every Turkish hospital also has experienced, efficient nursing staff. They bring together highly qualified and competent nurses and doctors, who work to meet every need of their patients.
Cancer treatment is one of the flagship specialties of medical experts in Turkey. They use a range of innovative and effective products. The affordable cost of treatment also strengthens the country’s popularity as a destination for chemo.
How do you organise continuity of care between two countries ?
Chemotherapy runs over several months, and as much happens between cycles as during them. There are no UK or European recommendations describing what to do when a regimen starts in one country and continues in another: that gap exists, and it is worth preparing for.
The Haute Autorité de Santé makes the formal, exhaustive transmission of information between professionals the condition for continuity of medicinal care in oncology, and recommends medication reconciliation before the first anti-cancer prescription[2].
In practice, that means having a named lead clinician before you leave, and an organised handover for the laboratory monitoring between two cycles. Medical tourism in Turkey sets out how a treatment trip is organised.
Frequently asked questions about chemotherapy in Turkey
How long does the hospital stay for chemotherapy in Turkey last?
How long an infusion takes depends on the regimen and the products used: it ranges from a few tens of minutes to several hours, and some schedules run continuously. Monitoring follows the dose, to check that there is no reaction.
How long do I need to stay in Turkey?
That depends on the regimen, the number of cycles prescribed and the laboratory monitoring between cycles. No guideline sets a length of stay: it is decided with the team prescribing the treatment, before you leave, and it can change during treatment.
What is the success rate?
There is no overall success rate covering all cancers. The benefit is measured by indication and by stage: in operated colon cancer, adding oxaliplatin raises 10-year survival from 59.0% to 67.1% at stage III, with no demonstrated benefit at stage II[3].
Which is the best country for chemotherapy?
No study compares the results of chemotherapy according to the country where it is given: the question has no figure-based answer. What can be checked is the regimen chosen, the multidisciplinary discussion that decided it and how follow-up is organised after you return[2].
What is the price of chemotherapy in the UK?
In the UK, cancer treatment is largely delivered through the NHS, and what you pay depends on your situation and on whether you are treated privately. If you would like to know what your own cover provides, check with the NHS.
What does the price quoted for Turkey include?
The range covers the treatment, not a complete stay. The regimen, the number of cycles and the related laboratory monitoring are decided only after assessment and a multidisciplinary team meeting: ask for the quote to state what it includes and what it excludes.
Sources & References
- Seretny M, Currie GL, Sena ES, et al. Incidence, prevalence, and predictors of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain. 2014. Read the source
- Haute Autorité de Santé. La conciliation des traitements médicamenteux pour sécuriser la prise en charge des patients atteints de cancer. 2019. Read the source
- André T, de Gramont A, Vernerey D, et al. Adjuvant fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin in stage II to III colon cancer: updated 10-year survival and outcomes (MOSAIC). Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2015. Read the source
- Assurance Maladie. À quoi sert la prise en charge en Affection Longue Durée (ALD) exonérante ?. 2026. Read the source
