Department of Oncology and Hematology - Eichsfeld Hospital Heilbad Heiligenstadt

About the Department of Oncology and Hematology at Eichsfeld Hospital Heilbad Heiligenstadt

The Department of Oncology and Hematology at the Eichsfeld Hospital Heilbad Heiligenstadt provides the full range of medical services in its areas of specialization. Patients with benign and malignant diseases of the hematopoietic system, as well as solid tumors of various localizations, can receive medical care here. The therapeutic process begins with an individual consultation, during which the attending physician studies the patient's medical history and prescribes the necessary diagnostic measures. Based on the results of the preliminary diagnosis, an optimal treatment regimen is developed. The medical team of the department specializes in the drug treatment of oncological pathologies. They carry out chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors, and hormone therapy. The department also performs transfusions of blood components, namely transfusions of platelets and red blood cells. Oncologists have a wealth of experience in the symptomatic treatment of oncological diseases and medical care in the case of the development of side effects during the therapeutic process. The department's range of services is complemented by palliative care for patients with end-stage cancer. Most treatments are performed on an outpatient basis, but patients may also be hospitalized if necessary. The department is a partner of the Goettingen Comprehensive Cancer Center, which makes it possible to offer innovative treatment methods. The department is headed by Dr. med. Iyas Hamwi.

The most popular treatment method in the department is chemotherapy, which is a drug treatment based on the intravenous injection or tablet administration of cytostatics to kill malignant cells. Chemotherapy is a systemic method because the drugs affect the entire body, not just the cancer focus. In most cases, chemotherapy is combined with other treatment modalities, most commonly surgery and/or radiation therapy; in rare cases, it can be used as a stand-alone treatment method. The intensity and duration of the course of chemotherapy are determined by the treating oncologist based on the diagnosis, stage of cancer, and the patient's general health condition. A chemotherapy regimen may be continuous or alternate periods of active treatment and recovery. Chemotherapy is highly effective in almost all types of cancer. However, it does have side effects, the most common of which are nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, and hair loss.

The department's specialists also regularly perform targeted therapy. This method, like chemotherapy, is a systemic treatment but differs in its mechanism of action. In targeted therapy, cancer cells are destroyed by the targeted action of a drug that blocks specific molecules in the cells. As a result of targeted therapy, malignant cells die. This process is known as apoptosis. The major advantage of targeted therapy, in addition to its high efficacy, is its selective action, which leaves healthy cells intact. Targeted drugs are better tolerated than chemotherapy drugs and cause virtually no side effects. Targeted therapy is usually used in combination with other treatments and is indicated for many types of cancer, including stomach cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, and thyroid cancer.

The department also offers immunotherapy, which is a real breakthrough in oncology today. Immunotherapy is a drug treatment approach to cancer that relies on activating the patient's own immune system to fight cancer, for example, using immune checkpoint inhibitors. Immunotherapy can be used as a stand-alone method or in combination with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The drugs are administered intravenously, but treatment is usually done on an outpatient basis. Immunotherapy has virtually no side effects. If they do occur, they can be easily corrected. It should be noted that, unlike other systemic treatments, immunotherapy is often used in stage 4 cancer with good results. Immunotherapy has proven to be highly effective in the treatment of melanoma (skin cancer), lung cancer, kidney cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, and other types of oncological diseases.

The department specializes in the diagnostics and treatment of the following oncological diseases:

• Solid malignant tumors
  • Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract
  • Cancer of the urinary system
  • Cancer of the respiratory system
  • Cancer of the female reproductive system
  • Cancer of the male reproductive system
  • Breast cancer
  • Brain and spinal cord cancer
  • Skin cancer
  • Soft tissue and bone sarcomas 
  • Cancer of unknown primary
• Malignant diseases of the hematopoietic system
  • Leukemia
  • Lymphomas
  • Myeloma
• Other diseases

The department's range of diagnostic and therapeutic services includes the following:

• Diagnostic services
  • Comprehensive laboratory diagnostics, including tumor marker tests, genetic tests to identify rare hereditary cancer, immunophenotyping, and molecular genetic tests
  • Blood smear microscopy
  • Ultrasound scans: Doppler ultrasound and duplex sonography
  • Lumbar puncture, pleural puncture, and paracentesis
  • Liquid biopsy and comprehensive genomic profiling (in collaboration with partner medical facilities)
• Therapeutic services
  • Chemotherapy
  • Targeted therapy
  • Immunotherapy
  • Hormone therapy
  • Transfusion of blood components
  • Symptomatic treatment
  • Palliative care
• Other medical services