Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serkan Keskin
Associate Professor Serkan Keskin is visiting Bulgaria again.
On December 15, 2018 in Sofia, we, the Health Information Center "Medical Karaj", will have the pleasure to welcome again the world-renowned oncologist Dr. Keskin. At the invitation of our manager Zvezdelina Lutfi, the oncologist will be in Bulgaria as part of our initiative to give Bulgarian patients access to the most advanced methods in medicine.
Since Dr. Keskin's previous visit had a large number of patients requesting free consultations, he agreed to come again and consult all those he was unable to last time. Consultations with the top oncologist from Turkey are suitable for patients needing a second opinion about their illness. They would also be useful for all patients interested in the possibility of treatment abroad, in particular treatment in Turkey.
Who is Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serkan Keskin?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serkan Keskin graduated from the Medical Faculty of the University of Thrace in 2001. Subsequently, he specialized in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology. Currently, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Keskin is the head of the Medical Oncology Department at Memorial Shishli Hospital in Istanbul. There he applies individualized innovative therapies for cancer treatment. Dr. Keskin is a world-renowned oncologist with 70 scientific publications in international journals. He is also a member of a number of professional associations in Europe, USA and Turkey.
What is new in the treatment of cancer that he applies in his practice?
Cancer treatment has seen major developments in recent years. This is evidenced by the fact that while in the last century the 5-year survival rate for cancer patients was around 50%, nowadays it reaches 80%. Today, drug therapies for cancer treatment are divided into three groups.
- The first is chemotherapy. It destroys the cancer cells. Because it usually affects healthy cells as well as cancer cells, chemotherapy is in many cases associated with significant side effects.
- The second method is targeted therapies or so-called "smart" drugs. These target only the cancer cells. Their mechanism of action involves blocking the signals that tell cancer cells to divide and multiply.
- The third mechanism to control cancer is immunotherapy. It activates the cells of the immune system to battle cancer cells and thus cure the disease. Immunotherapies are already used in many types of cancer, and research into their application is ongoing.
To treat the disease more successfully, Dr. Keskin applies genetic mapping of cancer to his work. In order to increase success rates and reduce side effects when dealing with the disease, it is important to him to administer personalized cancer treatment that is tailored to the type of disease and the individual patient. Through genetic mapping of cancer, the inside of the cancer cell is visualized and the extent of damage is determined.
NGS (Next Generation Sequencing)
NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) is the method that is defined as the new generation of sequencing. It is performed by examining the cancer tissue or with a simple blood test. This testing helps to choose the most appropriate therapy that will act most effectively on the tumor cells with fewer side effects for the individual patient.
For example, in a patient with breast cancer, the genetic testing of the disease is performed by taking cell or blood samples. Based on the test, the drug to be used is determined and the treatment plan is configured. In this way, the patient's recovery will be realized by choosing the more effective treatment and using drugs with fewer side effects.
For higher success rates in cancer treatment, a comprehensive approach needs to be applied in each individual case. Although cancer is now a curable disease, successful treatment after diagnosis requires the joint judgement and work of different specialists in this field. Additional data such as the patient's age, other co-morbidities, individual preferences and psychosocial state are taken into account when planning treatment.
"The oral or intravenous administration of the right drug for the disease in a cancer patient alone cannot be considered a success. The secret lies in love and respect for the person. The effort to inspire hope, as well as the trust of the patient himself and his family, are also an integral part of successful treatment," stress the specialists at Memorial Hospital.
All Bulgarian cancer patients who wish to take advantage of the opportunity for free consultations with Dr. Serkan Keskin in Sofia on December 15, should make an appointment in advance by calling the following numbers "Medical Karaj": 0879 977 401 or 0879 977 402.
During the free consultations, patients must present all the medical documents they have on their case so far. Only in this way can the consultation be as useful as possible for them.
