One of the most prestigious doctors in the field of pediatric oncology and hematology in Turkey, Prof. Dr. Hilmi Apak, will be a guest in Bulgaria on March 24. The top specialist with more than 25 years of experience in the treatment of childhood cancer is known far beyond the borders of his homeland for the hundreds of successfully treated young patients, including from Bulgaria. Together with his colleague Dr. Ismail Goenen, with whom he works together at Liv Hospital in Istanbul, he will consult patients in Sofia free of charge. The two are coming to Bulgaria at the invitation of the Health Information Center "Medical Karaj", as part of their initiative to provide Bulgarian patients with access to the latest advances in medicine, partnering with some of the best medical institutions and specialists from around the world.
Cancer in children is different from that in adults
Cancer starts from a mutated cell that multiplies rapidly and spreads uncontrollably, Prof. Hilmi Apak. Fortunately this rarely happens in childhood, but why it does happen is not fully understood. What is certain, however, is that the types of cancer that occur most frequently in children are different from those in adults, and their diagnosis and treatment should be carried out by specialists with expertise specifically in paediatric oncology and haematology. About 30% of all childhood cancers involve leukemia, also called blood cancer. Brain and spine tumors are the second most common. Neuroblastomas, lymphomas and sarcomas also occur in childhood.
And although a childhood cancer diagnosis is always something severe, unacceptable and unfair, the good news in this area is that the vast majority of these cases are treatable. This is due to medical advances, but also to the peculiarities of the child's organism. "The child's organism is amazing. It can heal much faster than an adult body," says Prof. Hilmi Apak.
What should parents pay attention to?
Parents should watch for signs of fatigue, anemia, frequent nose and gum bleeds, persistent fever, enlarged lymph nodes, headaches, lack of appetite, and noticeable weight loss in children. These are of course symptoms that can apply to many conditions, most of which are harmless. Therefore, the appearance of any of them should not become a cause for panic. A leading criterion is the duration of the complaints. For example, unexplained fever for more than 10 days should alert parents to seek specialist help. Due to the general nature of the symptoms, diagnosing childhood cancer is a complex task, so the doctor's experience is key in such a case.
Who are prof. Hilmi Apak and Assoc. Ismail Goenen?
Prof. Hilmi Apak is an internationally renowned specialist in the field of pediatric oncology and hematology and has been working at Liv Hospital for the past 4 years. She is the co-founder of TRALL group for leukemia treatment in Turkey and has been heading the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty for 24 years. His work and research interests are in the field of childhood cancer, blood diseases in children and the effects of nutrition on physical development in children.
Assoc. Ismail Gönen is a pediatrician with over 15 years of experience in some of the best hospitals in Turkey. He treats diseases in children and adolescents, with interests in the areas of infections and immunodeficiencies, growth and developmental problems, allergic and blood diseases.
For further information and to book a free consultation with prof. Hilmi Apak and Assoc. 0879 977 401 or 0879 977 402.
