Lung Cancer treatment in Germany
Best hospitals and doctors for lung cancer treatment in Germany
Leading hospitals
Cost for treatment
Lung cancer treatment can include surgery (open, video-assisted or robot-assisted), chemotherapy, radiation therapy or targeted drugs.
The leaders in cancer treatment are specialized University and Academic hospitals.
The cost of video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy starts at €24,005. The price for chemotherapy starts at €2,265. You can find other prices on our website.
The best hospitals for lung cancer treatment in Germany are:
- University Hospital Rechts der Isar Munich
- Helios Hospital Berlin-Buch
- University Hospital Frankfurt am Main
- University Hospital of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
- Clinic of Advanced Biological Medicine Frankfurt am Main
Lung cancer produces malignant neoplasms which affect the pulmonary tissue, pleura, bronchi and vascular structures. If not treated, the disease leads to respiratory failure, compression and the destruction of arteries. This is a life-threatening condition. However, numerous effective therapeutic options are available to treat the condition in German hospitals.
Content
- Overview of Lung Cancer Disease
- Treatment Options for Lung Cancer in Germany
- When is Surgery Needed for Lung Cancer Treatment in Germany?
- Chemotherapy Treatment for Lung Cancer in Germany
- Immunotherapy Treatment for Lung Cancer in Germany
- Stage 4 Lung Cancer
- Novel Treatments of Lung Cancer in Germany
- Palliative Treatment of Lung Cancer in Germany
- Cost of Treatment for Lung Cancer in Germany
- Why Undergo Lung Cancer Treatment in Germany?
- Treatment with Booking Health
Overview of Lung Cancer Disease
Decades ago, patients diagnosed with lung cancer seemed sentenced. However, modern achievements in oncology medicine are allowing doctors to deal with this medical condition successfully. German oncologists are leading the way in these developments, which means that receiving treatment for lung cancer in Germany gives patients a real chance of recovery.
Germany participates in numerous clinical investigations, thus gaining an active development in new techniques for cancer treatment. Very often, patients who undergo treatment in German hospitals are lung cancer patients who were not treated effectively in their own native countries. New diagnostic and treatment methods which are used by specialists at German hospitals, are often effective even in patients with cancer beyond the stage one-three.
Treatment Options of Lung Cancer in Germany
Just like other variations of oncology, lung cancer treatment is carried out through surgical interventions, drug-based therapies or the use of radiation therapy. In some cases, different forms of therapy are combined. Some specialists from German hospitals are developing individual disease treatment schemes for each patient.
The decision in choosing the first-line method of treatment depends not only on the type of tumour and the stage of the disease. The patient’s age and general condition, which are evaluated during an initial examination, play a crucial role. Based on the results of blood tests, the function of the kidneys and liver, blood coagulation and other indicators, the treatment plan is determined. Doctors conduct functional pulmonary tests before any treatment procedures begin, this identifies whether the remaining lung areas can maintain a normal respiratory function.
When is Surgery Needed for Lung Cancer Treatment in Germany?
With non-small-cell oncology, the most effective therapeutic method is surgical intervention. The operation is suitable at the onset of the pathology, when the neoplasm is not too large and metastases are absent. Also, effective functioning of the lungs and heart is important when conducting a surgery.
The operation aims to fully remove the tumour. With surgical intervention, it is necessary to remove the healthy tissues adjacent to the tumour together with the malignant formation. Specialists at the German hospitals always try to remove as little healthy tissue as possible but it is necessary to ensure that no malignant cells remain in the lungs.
Operations are often carried out to remove a certain part of the lung. Sometimes, it is necessary to remove the adjacent pulmonary tissues or parts of neighboring organs. In a larger tumour, the doctor determines the size of the lung part to be removed. One of the criteria which affects this decision-making is the overall health state of the patient. An important role is also played by any concomitant pathologies, such as heart conditions, blood pathologies, etc. When surgery is not the best treatment option, doctors use radiation therapy.
The removal of a lung tumour along with adjacent tissue, significantly affects the patient’s overall health state. After the surgery, there may be some pain in the chest and a feeling of weakness; deep breathing can cause coughing. However, most patients recover quickly. During the postoperative period, the remaining lung tissue has a limited respiratory function. Over time, the remaining lungs begin to function better. With the help of respiratory therapy and regular exercises, the patient can activate the process of restoring lung function.
Chemotherapy Treatment for Lung Cancer in Germany
When using chemotherapy for lung cancer treatment, doctors pursue different treatment direction options. These can be, to decrease tumour volume, destroy the tumour cells remaining after the operation or slow down metastasizing.
The cytostatics used in chemotherapy are usually administered in the form of intravenous infusions or sometimes – in tablet form. They spread throughout the body via blood vessels. Unfortunately, cytostatic drugs also damage the healthy body tissues.
Usually, prescribed therapy is based on the specific purpose and is conducted on an outpatient basis.
Neoadjuvant therapy is carried out before the surgery in order to reduce the volume of intervention. Adjuvant therapy is carried out to destroy malignant cells which may have been left in the body after surgery.
Palliative chemotherapy is aimed at slowing down the tumour growth if the tumour or metastases cannot be removed completely. If the tumour is inoperable, chemotherapy is used in combination with radiation therapy for palliative purposes.
Immunotherapy Treatment for Lung Cancer in Germany
A new approach to treatment is immunotherapy with antibodies. These don’t act on cancer cells directly but focus on "checkpoints" of the immune system.
The "control points" are used by tumour cells to escape from the body’s defenses. A healthy body can recognize harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses or cancer cells and destroy them. However, cancer cells use mechanisms which make them invisible to the attacking cells.
When using immunotherapy for lung cancer treatment, doctors try to direct the efforts of the patient's immune system against the tumour. One approach is to remove the protection which tumour cells use to hide from the immune system. Another type of cancer immunotherapy includes the use of certain immune cells or cytokines, as well as the so-called "anti-cancer vaccines".
Stage 4 Lung Cancer
There is a common misconception that patients with stage 4 oncology are doomed to die. Many patients feel disenchantment, refuse therapy and just go home instead of starting treatment. Nowadays, there are methods of treatment for stage 4 lung cancer that can achieve promising results.
When receiving treatment for stage 4 lung cancer, patients need to understand which histological type of cancer they have.
Therapy options for non-small-cell oncology are quite diverse. However, since stage 4 lung cancer is characterised by metastasizing, this significantly narrows the range of possible therapeutic options. The majority of patients with stage 4 lung cancer have multiple remote metastases, so the systemic antitumor medications are the basis of the treatment regimen.
On the contrary, small-cell oncology treatment methods are somewhat limited. If the general health condition allows it, drug treatment of stage 4 lung cancer is prescribed. Sometimes, after the therapy completion, malignant cells stop being visible on MRI or CT scans. As a rule, even in such situations, there is a high risk of cancer relapse. Read our blog for more information about treating stage 4 lung cancer.
Novel Treatments of Lung Cancer in Germany
Today, angiogenesis inhibitors are used in patients with inoperable metastatic lung cancer, along with chemotherapy with platinum preparations. Doctors choose this therapeutic approach as it increases the overall survival rate of patients compared to single chemotherapy treatment. However, this cancer treatment method may be associated with more serious side effects compared to mono-chemotherapy.
Recently, it became possible to combine the effect of tyrosine kinase inhibitors with a specific angiogenesis inhibitor. In such therapy, the life expectancy of patients is significantly increased, as well as the relapse-free period. Compared to the treatment with only tyrosine kinase inhibitors, serious side effects are rarely observed. Thus, this combination is also an alternative to a combination with chemotherapy.
Some antibodies, the so-called checkpoint inhibitors, can prevent the undesirable interaction between the tumour and immune system. When administered as a medicine, they block the corresponding receptors on tumour cells or cells of the immune system. Thus, tumour cells lose the ability to interact with the cells of the immune system. This new form of therapy is not effective in all patients. The possibility of its use is established by physicians before the start of cancer treatment.
Palliative Treatment of Lung Cancer in Germany
Despite all therapeutic capabilities, lung cancer cannot always be cured. The tumour may be too large and cannot be removed completely or metastases may have affected distant organs and/or lymph nodes. In such cases, it is better to focus on palliative treatment. In this circumstance, the goal is to maximise tumour suppression, reduce pain and other cancer-related symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients with cancer.
Cost of Treatment for Lung Cancer in Germany
The cost of treatment for lung cancer in Germany may seem high but it is fully justified. Specialists in German hospitals use progressive techniques of therapy and innovative medicines. This allows them to achieve better cancer treatment results and extend life, even in difficult cases.
The cost of treatment depends on the stage of the disease and the lung cancer treatment plan, which is appointed by each patient’s doctor, depending on the patient’s medical indicators. The estimated cost of treatment in Germany will be calculated after the hospital receives your medical information, including medical reports and results of diagnostics. Prices for the most common therapeutic methods are as follows:
| Treatment method | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thoracotomy with segmental resection | from 16,112 EUR |
| 2 | Da Vinci lobectomy | from 22,302 EUR |
| 3 | Lobectomy and extended pneumonectomy | from 21,330 EUR |
| 4 | Video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy | from 22,211 EUR |
| 5 | Proton therapy | from 44,325 EUR |
| 6 | Radiation therapy | from 15,800 EUR |
| 7 | Chemotherapy | from 2,375 EUR |
| 8 | Embolization or chemoembolization | from 23,895 EUR |
| 9 | Treatment of neuroendocrine tumour (NET) of the lung with Lutetium-177-DOTATATE | from 14,031 EUR |
The average price of pulmonary rehabilitation after lung cancer treatment in Germany is 830 EUR per day, the minimum price is 798 EUR per day, and the maximum price is 880 EUR per day. You're welcome to check out prices for other procedures on the Booking Health website.
Why Undergo Lung Cancer Treatment in Germany?
Doctors in Germany never refuse to treat patients with oncology. If German doctors have agreed to admit a patient, they will do their best to achieve the desired results. When deciding to use one method or another, doctors in German hospitals consider the health condition of the patient and the efficacy of the procedure. However, they would never deny further treatment due to the age of the patient or the stage of oncology. If it becomes obvious that it is no longer possible to stop the development of the disease, the patient is offered a comprehensive palliative program.
Treatment with Booking Health
Booking Health organises the treatment of patients with lung cancer in German hospitals. As a result of the successful collaboration of Booking Health with leading German hospitals, our patients receive the most modern treatment available in a timely manner.
With oncology, it is important to appreciate every minute, especially when lung cancer is diagnosed. At the stage 1-3 the tumour in the lung can be completely removed and the disease can go away. When booking with us, you can focus completely on your recovery, while Booking Health deals with all of the organizational issues.
Please leave any requests on the Booking Health website to start your treatment in Germany right now.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Farrukh Ahmed. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
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