| Turkey | Thailand | South Korea | |
| High intensity focused ultrasound ablation (HIFU) | from AUD $5,627 | from AUD $11,958 | from AUD $17,585 |
| Chemotherapy for breast cancer | from AUD $1,688 | from AUD $4,220 | from AUD $27,010 |
| Cryotherapy | from AUD $352 | from AUD $4,502 | from AUD $9,566 |
| Radiation therapy for colorectal cancer | from AUD $9,847 | from AUD $7,737 | - |
| Photocoagulation | from AUD $352 | from AUD $844 | - |
Associate Professor Muhammet Derda Ozer is a highly qualified ophthalmic surgeon who completed specialised ocular oncology training at the world-renowned Wills Eye Institute in the United States.
Dr. Ceyhun Bozkurt is a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Medical Park Bahcelievler Hospital. He serves as the clinical director and vice director of the stem cell transplant unit. Dr. Bozkurt focuses on childhood leukemia, bone marrow transplants, and neuroblastoma. He completed specialized observerships at Harvard University and Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
Dr. Yesim Yildirim is a medical oncologist at Anadolu Medical Center. She specializes in immunotherapy and targeted therapy for breast, lung, and gastrointestinal cancers. Dr. Yildirim is ESMO-certified and holds the rank of Professor. She completed training at Mount Vernon in the UK and Rambam Medical Center.
Dr. Ahmet Nadir Tosyali is a pediatric surgeon at Anadolu Medical Center in Istanbul. He holds the Turkish Pediatric Surgery Qualification Certificate. Dr. Tosyali treats complex conditions like Wilms tumor, neuroblastoma, and spina bifida. He provides care at a clinic affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Turkish ocular oncology centres provide advanced retinoblastoma treatments. These include intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC), plaque brachytherapy, and cryotherapy. Specialists at JCI-accredited facilities focus on globe-conserving therapies to preserve vision. Major centres in Istanbul and Antalya use high-intensity focused ultrasound and laser photocoagulation to treat tumours effectively.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish centres often achieve high eye-salvage rates by combining systemic chemoreduction with focal therapies. Data shows specialists such as Associate Prof. Muhammet Derda Ozer have performed over 25,000 surgeries. This massive case volume across Istanbul clinics means doctors are proficient in both vision-sparing techniques and complex reconstruction.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that finding a specialist with specific ocular oncology expertise is more important than the hospital name. Australian families recommend securing a named specialist and a written treatment plan before travelling to Turkey.
International patients choose Turkey for paediatric eye cancer treatment. It provides access to vision-sparing technologies like intra-arterial chemotherapy and plaque brachytherapy. Specialist centres offer rapid appointments and JCI-accredited care. Treatment costs for procedures like eye enucleation are significantly lower. They are lower than in Australia or the United States.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many Australian families look for general oncology care, Turkey's real advantage is ultra-specialisation in retinoblastoma. Our data shows that top clinics treat many patients annually. Dunyagoz Eye Hospital Istanbul Etiler, for example, treats 66,000 patients a year. This massive volume allows surgeons to maintain rare expertise in vision-preserving techniques. Smaller regional hospitals elsewhere may not perform these techniques frequently enough to perfect.
Patient Consensus: Families note that Turkey's private sector provides immediate access to specialists. This is vital since retinoblastoma is a time-sensitive disease. They often highlight the high 96% cure rate. This encourages them to travel quickly for specialist surgical and oncology care.
Turkish medical centres report eye-salvage rates up to 100% for early-stage retinoblastoma. Success depends on the International Intraocular Retinoblastoma Classification (IIRC) group. Advanced cases often require surgery. However, survival rates at leading Istanbul hospitals remain high through multidisciplinary care.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Some Turkish oncology centres bridge the gap between surgical and medical oncology. For example, Anadolu Medical Center and Memorial Sisli do this through US affiliations. Our data shows specialists often combine intra-arterial chemotherapy with focal therapies. This approach prioritises eye-salvage for Group D cases that might face immediate removal elsewhere. This multidisciplinary depth is why Turkey leads our global rankings with 427 specialised clinics.
Patient Consensus: Patients find that intensive chemotherapy offers about a 50% eye-preservation chance in complex cases. However, enucleation provides nearly 100% cancer clearance. They emphasise that early diagnosis in Turkey remains the most critical factor. Saving a child's sight depends on it.
Dunyagoz Eye Hospital Istanbul Etiler is a leading centre for retinoblastoma. It features a specialised ocular oncology department. Other top choices include JCI-accredited Anadolu Medical Center and Memorial Sisli Hospital. These clinics provide multidisciplinary care combining paediatric oncology with specialised eye surgery.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many centres treat eye issues, true retinoblastoma expertise requires a specific paediatric oncology/ophthalmology overlap. Our data shows Anadolu Medical Center and Memorial hospitals are top choices. They integrate TrueBeam STx technology with specialists like Dr Ahmet Nadir Tosyali. He focuses specifically on oncological procedures for children.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that Dunyagoz is Turkey's largest eye hospital network, while Koç University Hospital is frequently cited as a premier choice for coordinated paediatric oncology care. Patients should confirm the team's specific experience with childhood anaesthesia and ocular tumours before travel. This is recommended by those who have sought treatment in Turkey.
Families generally need to stay in Turkey for 3 to 28 days. This depends on the treatment type. Focal therapies like laser or cryotherapy require about 3 to 5 days. Complex surgeries like enucleation usually require 2 to 4 weeks. This time is for healing and prosthetic fitting.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Retinoblastoma packages in Turkey often bundle 5 nights of 4-star accommodation. Associate Professor M. Derda Ozer's packages are one example. This covers the initial diagnostic and surgical window. Complex cases involving intra-arterial chemotherapy may require returning every 3 weeks. This is instead of one long stay. Australian families should note this.
Patient Consensus: Families note that stays depend heavily on hospital scheduling and follow-up tests. They suggest keeping return flights flexible in Turkey. This is because treatment plans often change after the initial specialist assessment.