Medical Oncology

Patients that have been diagnosed to have cancer or that are suspected of having cancer apply our department. In Medical Oncology Subdivision, the diagnoses and treatments of cancers such as breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, gall bladder and tract cancers, lung cancers, head-neck cancer, malignant mesenchymal tumors, brain tumors, kidney-bladder cancers, prostate cancer, melanoma, thyroid cancer, testicular cancer, ovary-uterus (endometrium)-the cervix cancer, acute and chronic leukemia, lymphomas and multiple myeloma are executed. In the Medical Oncology outpatient clinics, all patients are evaluated by faculty members, specialized physicians and physicians whose sub-branch residencies are ongoing. In treatments applied, the modern treatment approaches are adhered and the treatments are rendered in compliance with the standards of western countries. Medical procedures such as performing and evaluating bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, evaluating lumber puncture and intratecal treatment and peripheral smear are within the outpatient clinic services. In the outpatient daytime treatment unit, services such as short-term and infusional chemotherapy administration and supportive treatments, venous port and catheter care are offered. The patients with diagnosis problems or whose general conditions are not appropriate for outpatient treatments or who requires continuous infusion treatments are followed up in inpatient services. Furthermore, the follow ups and treatments of patients who need supportive treatments and who are applied interventional procedures are performed in medical oncology services.

The clinic services of our division are carried out for 24 hours uninterruptedly and regularly, by faculty members and instructor being in the first place, and by specialized medical personnel. Patient who are diagnosed and treated by hospitalization are followed up in wards 92-B, 93-2, 94-B and 95, including the capacity of 40 beds, at Hacettepe Oncology Hospital. The patients who are hospitalized in and out of the beds of Internal Diseases are also followed up and treated by specialized physicians, when they consulted with our division.

Patients that are admitted to Hacettepe Emergency Service are examined by specialized physicians, consulted with faculty members and hospitalized in services when needed.

Patients that are followed up in inpatient units are visited by specialized physicians and faculty members every day, including the Saturdays and Sundays, and their treatment planning is made.

Cryobiology Laboratory

In the cryobiology laboratory, cells collected from patients by the apheresis method are frozen and stored long-term (cryopreservation) for later use.

Stem cells collected by apheresis from patients who apply to the Stem Cell Unit of the Division of Medical Oncology and are planned to undergo autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation are, after chemicals that will keep them alive are added, frozen gradually and stored in a -196°C liquid nitrogen tank until the time they are needed. Thawing these frozen stem cells at 37°C and preparing them for infusion when they are to be given to the patient is also among the services provided in the Cryobiology Laboratory.

Genetic Counseling Unit for Familial Cancers

Hereditary cancers account for approximately 10% of all cancers. Cancer in more than one generation of a family, a cancer diagnosis at an earlier age than in the general population, the presence of more than one cancer in an individual, and cancer occurring on both sides of the body are indicative of hereditary cancer syndromes. Determining hereditary cancer risk, providing genetic counseling to individuals at risk, and implementing risk-reducing interventions based on the data obtained from genetic testing are important in reducing the risk of cancer and cancer-related death. In addition, the information obtained from these tests may reveal situations requiring multidisciplinary follow-up, making it possible to provide the right referral at the right time. A number of genes that predispose to various cancers (that is, when present in a person, they increase the risk of developing cancer compared with other people in the population) and the changes in these genes have been identified. The purpose of genetic tests is to determine whether there is any change in genes known to predispose to cancer. Many cancers, especially breast and colon cancer, have a varying likelihood of being familial. Diagnosing familial cancer syndromes affects the subsequent treatment, follow-up and screening plan of the individual with cancer, and also aims to have other members of the individual's family evaluated in this respect and placed in an appropriate screening and follow-up program, to take preventive measures, and to increase the chance of treatment by diagnosing a possible cancer early.

The Genetic Counseling and Risk Assessment Unit in Cancer operates within the Department of Preventive Oncology of the Hacettepe University Cancer Institute. Applications can be made by physician referral or individually. A file is opened for applicants at the first assessment. After the necessary information is provided, written pre-test consent is obtained. A “Cancer Risk Assessment Form” is filled in to determine personal, familial or lifestyle characteristics that may create cancer risk, as well as knowledge, attitudes and behavior regarding screening programs. A 3-generation family tree is then drawn. After the initial assessment, appropriate genetic tests for a possible hereditary cancer syndrome are requested in accordance with the criteria of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Informative genetic counseling is provided to individuals whose test results are positive.

Supportive Care Unit in Cancer

All cancer patients, except the patients having green cards, may get any kind of services in our division by applying directly. Patients having green cards should apply by receiving referral documents from a hospital which is authorized on this issue.

Outpatient clinic examination appointments are booked via phone numbers +90 (312) 305 29 41 - 42 - 52.

Result and control appointments are booked for the patients who have been examined at our hospital previously.

Appointments should be received depending upon that to be consulted with diagnoses within the hospital or from an outer center, or to be the control patient.

Medical Oncology Subdivision is located on the ground floor of Hacettepe Oncology Hospital in Sıhhiye Campus, it is possible to reach the division from all over Ankara by metro and by other public transport vehicles. The patients may reach the secretariat within the outpatient clinic, for any kind of information and medical services in addition to the examination appointments, by dialing the phone numbers +90 (312) 305 29 41, +90 (312) 305 29 42 or +90 (312) 305 29 52.

Furthermore, information about faculty members can be obtained from the secretariat of subdivision by dialing +90 (312) 305 29 29 and +90 (312) 305 28 66.

Thursday mornings are allocated for trainings. Apart from that, the outpatient clinic examinations are carried out on weekdays uninterruptedly, between 08:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00.