Cancer surgery in Istanbul, planned around you
Facing cancer is difficult, and long waiting lists or limited options at home can make it harder. Booking Surgery has helped international patients travel to Istanbul for treatment for many years. We connect you with experienced surgical oncologists in authorised hospitals and organise everything around the operation, so you can focus on getting well.
Your coordinator arranges your medical review, hospital admission, transfers, translator and accommodation, and stays in touch until you are home and your local doctors have taken over your follow-up.
Cancers we arrange surgery for
Our cancer service currently focuses on two groups of cancer, where surgery is often a central part of treatment:
Breast cancer: lumpectomy, mastectomy, lymph node surgery and breast reconstruction
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers: cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, colon and rectum
If you have a different type of cancer, send us your reports anyway. We will tell you honestly whether we can help.
Why patients choose us
Shorter waiting times: once your medical files have been reviewed and you accept the plan, we book your consultations, tests and surgery as quickly as your case allows.
Experienced specialists: your case is reviewed by surgical oncologists who treat these cancers every week, in hospitals that are authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health to treat international patients.
Everything on the ground arranged: airport transfers, local transport, a medical translator and accommodation for you and a companion.
One coordinator from start to finish: your coordinator manages appointments, hospital paperwork and follow-up, and is available on WhatsApp throughout.
How the process works
Free case review
Send us your medical reports and scans. Our partner oncology surgeons review your case and propose a treatment plan, with a written quote.
Planning your dates
When you accept the plan, we book your hospital admission and surgery, and plan your travel dates around them.
Arrival and treatment
A driver meets you at the airport. Your translator stays with you through tests, consultations, surgery and discharge.
Recovery and handover
We stay with you through your hospital stay and the first days of recovery. Before you fly, you receive your surgical and pathology reports in English for your doctors at home.
Medical documents for your expert opinion
To give you an accurate opinion and plan your treatment without delay, our medical team needs a clear picture of your current health. Please prepare the following documents. Your coordinator will tell you if anything else is needed for your case.
Imaging and radiology
The original scan files (DICOM) from your most recent scans, not only printed pictures
The written radiology reports that accompany each scan
Depending on your diagnosis: PET-CT or PET-MRI, CT with contrast (chest, abdomen or pelvis) or MRI
Pathology and biopsy
The biopsy or histopathology report confirming the type, grade and stage of the tumour
Immunohistochemistry and genetic test results, such as HER2, ER/PR, PD-L1 or EGFR status
In some cases you may be asked to bring your tissue slides or paraffin blocks for a second review
Medical history
Recent letters, oncology notes or discharge summaries from your doctors
Details of any chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other treatment you have had or are having now
Recent blood tests: full blood count, kidney function and liver function
A heart tracing (ECG) or echocardiogram, especially if you have a heart condition
Sending your documents
Collect your reports (PDF or Word) and your scan folder, which is usually labelled “DICOM” on the CD or download link from your hospital.
If the scan folder is large, compress it into a ZIP file or share it with a file-transfer link.
Send everything to your coordinator by email or WhatsApp. Your files are only shared with the medical team reviewing your case.
Costs, insurance and payment
What the package includes
You receive a written, itemised quote before you travel. It usually covers your pre-operative tests and scans, the operation and anaesthesia, your hospital stay in a private room with a companion bed, meals for you and your companion, follow-up visits and medication to take home, private transfers and a medical translator.
International health insurance
Some private and international health insurance plans cover treatment abroad if it is approved in advance. Insurers will not pay for cancer treatment abroad after the event without approval. We can provide a medical report and an itemised quote from the hospital for you to send to your insurer for pre-authorisation.
Paying for treatment
Public health systems such as the NHS do not usually cover private treatment in Turkey, so most patients pay for their treatment themselves. Your coordinator will explain the accepted payment methods, the currency of your quote and when payment is due before you book your flights.
Cancer treatment in Turkey: your trip
Before you fly
Your coordinator confirms your treatment plan, quote and dates, helps you plan your flights and tells you what to bring, including your scans and current medication.
In Istanbul
A driver meets you at the airport. A translator stays with you through tests, consultations, surgery and discharge, and a companion can stay with you.
Back home
You leave with your surgical, pathology and discharge reports in English. Your coordinator stays in touch and helps your local doctors continue your care.
Cancer Treatment in Turkey procedures
Breast Cancer Surgery
Lumpectomy, mastectomy, lymph node surgery and breast reconstruction, planned by experienced breast surgeons in Istanbul.
Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery
Surgery for cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, colon and rectum, by experienced surgical oncologists in Istanbul.
Preparing for and Recovering from Cancer Surgery
What to do in the weeks before your operation, on the day of surgery and during your recovery at home.
What the Cancer Treatment in Turkey package includes
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Hospital and medical care
Your private hospital room, nursing care, pre-operative tests, consultations with your surgeon, anaesthesia, the operation itself and the medication you take home.
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VIP transfers
A private driver meets you at the airport and takes you between the airport, your hotel and the hospital.
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Translator and companion
A medical translator at the hospital, and a companion can travel with you at no extra cost.
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Meals and comfort
Daily meals for you and your companion throughout your stay.
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24/7 patient coordinator
A dedicated coordinator answers your questions before, during and after your trip, in your language.
Cancer Treatment in Turkey FAQ
How quickly can my surgery be scheduled?
Once your medical files have been reviewed and you accept the treatment plan, we book your hospital admission and surgery as quickly as your case allows. Your coordinator will confirm the expected timeline for your case before you book your flights.
How will I communicate with my doctors if I do not speak Turkish?
A medical translator stays with you during consultations, tests, surgery and follow-up visits, and your coordinator is available on WhatsApp throughout your stay.
Can a family member travel with me?
Yes, and we recommend it. A companion can stay with you in your hospital room, and we arrange accommodation for you both for the rest of your stay.
What happens after I return home?
Before you fly, you receive your operation notes, pathology report and discharge instructions in English. We help you hand over to your local oncologist or GP, who continues your long-term follow-up.
Can I use my health insurance?
Some private and international insurance plans cover treatment abroad with prior approval. We provide a medical report and itemised quote for you to send to your insurer. Public systems such as the NHS do not usually cover private treatment abroad.
What documents do I need to send?
Your latest scans (ideally the original DICOM files) with their written reports, your biopsy and pathology reports, and a summary of your medical history and any treatment so far. The full list is on this page.
