Oncology

Individually selected treatment is a specific oncology feature in Israel

Treatment protocols for different cancer types are based on statistics collected for many years and are considered a useful oncological instrument; however, physicians of the Hadassah Hospital often have to be flexible, accommodating confirmed protocols to a specific situation

Cutting-edge molecular-genetic oncological tests help to create personal programs for cancer treatment. In Israel they are used:

1. when problems arise with the diagnosis;
2. when the tumor is resistant to hormonal therapy and chemotherapy;
3. in high risks of relapses;
4. for cancer prevention
etc.

The following is used in the Hadassah Medical Center:

• InVitae Genetic Test helps to successfully detect gene mutations leading to malignant tumors of the breast, prostate, lungs, skin, bowel, urogenital system, and many others.
• Caris Target Now can detect all cancer forms, except for leukemia.
• Foundation One, one of the most complete and informative oncological tests, and many other genetic diagnostic methods, which are performed together with multiple genetic studies under the guidance of a famous scientist – professor Orly Elpeleg — head of the Genetic and Metabolic Diseases Department at the Hadassah MC.
etc.

Both innovative and traditional methods of cancer diagnosis are used in the Hadassah Clinic. These include tumor markers, patient’s blood or urine tests for substances which are considered products of cancer or body reactions to the tumor presence.

Tumor markers test is carried out not only to determine the presence of the malignant process, but also to evaluate the treatment effectiveness, to monitor the surgery success 7-10 days after it, and to prevent relapses after treatment.

Tumor markers themselves do not confirm cancer, and additional diagnosis is required, as several conditions and pathologies also lead to increased levels of substances considered tumor markers.

Since 2012, biopsy under the ultrasound guidance has been taken in the Clinic, which significantly enhances the procedure accuracy. Most common ultrasound-guided biopsies of the thyroid gland, prostate, liver, spleen, and lungs are performed.

The use of technologies and proven methods is not a success guarantee— the equipment does not replace the experience of a diagnostician, knowledge and skills obtained. However, patients of Hadassah Hospital are lucky: oncologists of the medical center learn from prominent professors, physicians known all over the world that studied medicine with descendant doctors who arrived to Jerusalem in the first half of the 20th century from Western and Eastern European countries.

Cutting-edge oncology: The Hadassah Hospital is the Israeli leader in the number of famous physicians

Oncologists are the main factor defining the quality of cancer treatment in Israel.

These include the famous oncologic surgeon prof. Alon Pikarsky; the head of the Moshe Sharett Institute prof. Tamar Yablonsky-Perez; the globally renowned oncologic gynecologist prof. Avi Ben-Shushan; the famous oncological urologist Ofer Gofrit whose nickname is “Da Vinci Professor” due to his masterful surgical robot skills which are indispensable in Israel for the treatment of male urogenital cancer; the head of the Melanoma Treatment and Cancer Immunotherapy Center, world-famous dermatologist prof. Michal Lotem.

These and other physicians of the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem always establish accurate diagnoses and skillfully use modern oncological methods available only in such a large state-funded institution.

Only for patients of Hadassah University Hospital

Patients frequently treated in the medical center receive innovative drugs first, long before they appear in pharmacies. This phenomenon is easy to explain: The Sharett Institute is the world leader of anticancer drugs development and implementation. Every year it arranges clinical trials of new drugs for patients whose chance of recovery with the standard therapy is not high. The trials are completely safe: physicians are very attentive and quickly react to the slightest change in the participant`s condition.

Cancer technologies and treatment: the leading role of Hadassah University Hospital

A New Breakthrough in Radiotherapy

An innovative Ethos linear accelerator manufactured by the VARIAN Company has been used since the beginning of 2021 in Hadassah Hospital. This equipment is unique for Israel and the Middle East, and it has taken the global radiotherapy to the new level.

Unlike its predecessors, this device allows to create a new individual radiotherapy plan every day, which significantly reduces the duration of radiotherapy sessions and increases its accuracy, reducing the incidence of most side effects.

Ethos is equipped with a high-precision computed tomography system, while the adaptive artificial intelligence controls the whole treatment planning process.

A Revolution in Radiotherapy

The oncology department constantly buys new-generation therapeutic and diagnostic equipment. In 2016, local radiologists have started to use the Novalis TrueBeam Stx high-accuracy radiotherapy unit for the first time in the country. The device allows to shorten the radiotherapy course significantly, sometimes to a week instead of a month. The unit accurately detects a tumor, and the irradiation is so precise that even the smallest neoplasm located dangerously close to nerve centers (e.g., spinal metastasis) is destroyed without any consequences for the patient. One of the most famous radiologists, doctor Mark Vigoda is the head of the radiotherapy division.

The new device can affect several targets simultaneously, i.e. destroying several metastases in the brain during a single session, which drastically decreases risks and accelerates recovery.

A Unique PET-CT

In the beginning of 2018, a PET-CT device (DISCOVERY MI model manufactured by General Electric) has started to operate in the imaging division.

Hadassah’s diagnosticians have been learning to use devices and to accurately interpret the data obtained for many years from their senior colleagues. They constantly undergo advanced education in the largest manufacturing companies, taking courses in the largest oncological centers of the USA, Canada, and Western Europe.

Hadassah University Hospital has promoted cancer treatment in Israel to a new level Oncology is a priority area of medicine in the majority of industrialized countries, and it is extremely difficult to compete in it. However, for a long time Hadassah University Hospital has been in the list of the best Israeli clinics specialized in cancer treatment. The cutting-edge methods and technologies are used in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors in the Sharett Institute, other oncological centers and divisions. Some of them are used only in Hadassah and nowhere else in the country, sometimes even in the Middle East and Europe.

PRRT Therapy

Patients with prostatic cancer, neuroendocrine gastrointestinal and pulmonary tumors receive innovative treatment in Hadassah Hospital, which has helped dozens of patients to recover. This is the peptide receptor targeted radiotherapy (PPRT) based on the administration of radioactive Lutetium-177 which accurately locates and quickly destroys cancer cells. The toxic impact on the patient’s body is minimal. The oncologists of our hospital use the top-quality Israeli isotope which is manufactured in a specially equipped and isolated laboratory right on the hospital’s territory, which drastically increases the quality of treatment. You also can read the feedback of a grateful patient on the Lutetium treatment.

New Ultrasound Diagnosis

In July 2018 the diagnosis of hepatic and renal cancer in Israel was brought to a new level: in Hadassah University Hospital it became possible to replace the CT scan with ultrasound, thus avoiding radiation and winning in accuracy. It happened because of an implementation of the innovative SonoView contrast substance in the hospital. The new diagnostics is guided by the head of the ultrasound department, doctor Liat Appelbaum.

Chemotherapy without Side Effects

Physicians from Hadassah Medical Center pay special attention to the development of drugs maximally destroying tumors, but not causing side effects, as well as special drugs that can remove or at least significantly alleviate chemotherapeutic effects. Regarding this issue, local chemotherapists are leaders in the Middle East and Europe.

Stem Cell Transplant and Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)

This procedure is used to treat dozens of cancer types in Israel. Unique specialists are unmatched in their work in the BMT department: professor Polina Stepensky, doctor Sigal Grisaru, doctor Irina Zaidman.

Da Vinci

Doctor Vladimir Yutkin, a well-known urological surgeon and scientist of the Hadassah MC performs a unique surgery (partial organ-sparing resection of the kidney affected by the malignancy) using a robotic Da Vinci unit.

Advantages of Cancer Treatment at Hadassah University Hospital

Only modern methods of anticancer treatment are used in the oncology department:

• innovative immunotherapy with the administration of T-lymphocytes grown in the laboratory;
• cutting-edge intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) used in abdominal organs malignancies and not causing any side effects;
• a large list of palliative drugs aimed at eliminating unpleasant symptoms caused by the malignant process or intensive chemotherapy;
• innovative Synergo device used to destroy inoperable urinary bladder tumors;
• advanced methods of organ-sparing surgery, laparoscopic and endoscopic surgeries, laser and robotic units, cutting-edge imaging and computed navigation devices that allow to perform the surgery maximally accurate and without mistakes.

The reason the patients often arrive to Hadassah University Hospital is the scope of the surgery they offered abroad. In Israel the cancer treatment is aimed to preserving the organs, improving the patient’s quality of life. Surgical oncologists use the smallest chance to avoid surgery or to reduce it as much as possible.

Quality of Life and Complex Cancer Treatment in Israel

Unlike many foreign oncologists, the physicians of the Hadassah Medical Center use the holistic or complex approach, in which the human body is considered as an organic and harmonic unity, while the treatment mainly aims not only at complete elimination of tumor cells, but also at improving the general quality of life in oncological patients. A multidisciplinary team includes different medical specialists — oncologists, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, diet specialists, pain syndrome therapy specialists, cardiologists, etc. The physicians team monitors the patient’s condition and gives recommendations on the treatment course adjustment and subsequent rehabilitation.

Some types of oncological surgeries require the subsequent intervention of a plastic surgeon. Doctor Neta Adler is a specialist popular among hundreds of female patients who performs breast reconstruction after the tumor removal. She uses modern methods like DIEP, TRAM — the newest procedures allowing to transfer fatty tissues from the lower abdomen. As a result, the patient does not only restore the natural breast appearance, but also has her abdomen volume reduced.

Many colleagues of doctor Adler restore the skin, eliminate the consequences of maxillofacial, oncologic ophthalmological, oncologic orthopedic, and other surgeries.

Main types of oncological diseases are successfully diagnosed and treated at Hadassah University Hospital.

Thousands of patients visit hospitals in Israel every year. Oncology has developed here at least on par with the Western countries (and sometimes even better). The Hadassah Medical Center physicians achieve wonderful results when treating all malignancy types, including the very rare forms.

• pituitary gland cancer
• ocular cancer
• brain cancer
• laryngeal cancer
• gallbladder cancer
• gastric cancer
• intestinal cancer
• skin cancer
• bone cancer
• leukemia
• lung cancer
• lymphoma
• uterine corpus cancer or cervical cancer
• breast cancer
• hepatic cancer
• esophageal cancer
• spinal column cancer
• renal cancer
• prostate cancer
• oral cavity cancer
• thyroid cancer
• testicular cancer
• ovarian cancer
• rare tumors