Prof. Dr. Hilmi Apak is one of the most prestigious Turkish physicians in the field of pediatric oncohematology. Prof. Dr. Apak has over 25 years of experience in treating cancer in children. The specialist has hundreds of successfully treated patients behind his back, some of them from Bulgaria. Because of his professionalism and experience, Prof. Dr. Apak's name is known far beyond the borders of Turkey. Currently, Prof. Dr. Hilmi Apak is practicing and seeing his young patients at Liv Hospital Ulus Istanbul.
Once again, at the invitation of our Governor Zvezdelina Lutfi, the specialist dedicated to the little ones will come for free consultations in Bulgaria on 28 March 2019 to help Bulgarian children with severe cancer and hematological diseases. The consultations will take place as part of our initiative to provide Bulgarian patients with access to the latest treatment methods and technologies.
Who is Prof. Dr. Hilmi Apak?
Prof. Dr. Hilmi Apak is an internationally renowned specialist in the field of pediatric oncology and hematology and has been working at the high-tech Liv Hospital Ulus Istanbul 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.
Cancer in children
Cancer in children is different from cancer in adults, according to Professor Dr Hilmi Apak. Cancer starts from a mutated cell that multiplies rapidly and spreads uncontrollably. The types of cancers that occur most often in children are different from those in adults, and their diagnosis and treatment should be done by specialists with expertise specifically in pediatric oncology and hematology. 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.
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 advances in medicine, but also to the peculiarities of the child's organism. "The children's organism is astonishing. It can heal much faster than the body of an adult," says Professor. 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, of course, are 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 expertise of the doctor is key.
For further information and to book a free consultation with prof. 0879 977 401 or 0879 977 402.
