Tatyana Petersons Story: From Terminal Diagnosis to Life-Saving Surgery in Germany
- A Life-Changing Diagnosis and Limited Options
- The Limitations of Standardized Healthcare
- The Search for Alternative Solutions
- A Miraculous Discovery: Finding Booking Health
- Comprehensive Support Throughout the Journey
- World-Class Surgical Excellence
- Remarkable Results and Renewed Hope
- A Message of Hope for Other Patients
When Norwegian doctors told Tatyana Peterson she had only months to live, she refused to accept defeat. Her journey from a devastating cancer diagnosis to successful treatment in Germany demonstrates the life-changing power of seeking second opinions and exploring all available options abroad.
A Life-Changing Diagnosis and Limited Options
Tatyana Peterson, a St. Petersburg native who had lived in Norway for 30 years, thought she had overcome cancer. In 2022, she was diagnosed with peritoneal carcinomatosis, an aggressive cancer affecting the entire peritoneum, against the background of ovarian cancer. After six rounds of chemotherapy and surgery, she achieved remission and enjoyed two years of a good quality of life.
But in October 2024, devastating news shattered her peace. X-ray diagnosis revealed a large liver tumor located in a particularly dangerous position – under the liver, near the porta hepatis, and very close to the portal vein.
"The Norwegian doctors decided that surgery was not possible in my case," Tatyana recalls. "They simply sent me home, saying that I have a few, in better case, 6 months left."
The tumor's proximity to the portal vein made surgery extremely risky. Norwegian doctors explained that any damage to this vital blood vessel during surgery could cause fatal bleeding. Instead, they offered only chemotherapy, which they admitted would not remove the tumor but might slow its progression slightly.
The Limitations of Standardized Healthcare
Despite receiving good care in Norway, Tatyana encountered the rigid limitations of a standardized healthcare system. "In Norway there are good doctors and good service, but unfortunately there are such things as general rules," she explains. "All oncology hospitals and all other hospitals have to follow these strict general rules."
This systematic approach, while ensuring consistent care, prevented the individualized treatment Tatyana desperately needed. "Many patients do not get an individual approach: understanding of the situation, age and his or her life situation, how many more years he or she wants to live," she reflects. "It is impossible to deviate from these lines. It is considered a mistake."
The Search for Alternative Solutions
Faced with such a bleak prognosis, Tatyana and her family began exploring options beyond Norway's borders. Friends, other doctors, and a second opinion all pointed toward the same conclusion: "Germany is highly rated in the world in terms of medical care and experimental surgery."
Initially, they attempted to navigate the German healthcare system independently, following advice to avoid intermediary companies. "We chose the 10 best hospitals in Germany and started to contact them," Tatyana explains. They meticulously prepared document packages with X-rays, CDs, laboratory tests, and doctors' reports for each hospital.
However, this approach proved frustratingly slow. After three weeks of waiting, they had received responses from only three of the seven hospitals they contacted – and those responses were automated messages indicating reviews could take several months.
"You understand that this is especially not relevant for cancer patients, when tumors do not wait, they grow," Tatyana emphasizes. "In my situation, the count was already in weeks, first in months and then in weeks."
A Miraculous Discovery: Finding Booking Health
Just when hope seemed lost, fate intervened. "By chance, when we had given up all hope, we came across Booking Health and got a response from them," Tatyana recalls. "We were very surprised and the next day we started working. This discovery was a real relief. I would even say it was a miracle."
The difference in response time was remarkable. What had taken weeks of futile attempts with direct hospital contact was resolved in a single day through Booking Health's professional network and expertise.
Comprehensive Support Throughout the Journey
From the moment they connected with Booking Health, Tatyana experienced a level of support that transformed her medical journey. The service extended far beyond simple appointment scheduling.
"We were even greeted at the airport by a luxury car as a compliment," she shares. When diagnostic tests faced 2-3 week waiting lists at the main hospital, Booking Health efficiently organized alternative arrangements at other facilities with shorter wait times.
"I felt supported all the time and every day," Tatyana emphasizes. "If there were any problems, organizational or otherwise, I could always contact Booking Health and they were always on the phone day and night."
The emotional support proved equally valuable during this challenging time. "They were so compassionate, understanding, and reassuring in a difficult situation. They gave me hope, and it was justified."
World-Class Surgical Excellence
Tatyana's case required exceptional surgical expertise, which she found in Germany's advanced medical system. Her complex 7-hour surgery was performed simultaneously by two renowned specialists: Dr. Lipp, a professor specializing in HIPEC and abdominal therapy and surgery, and Dr. Oldhafer, a professor specializing in liver surgery.
"The surgery was done by two doctors at the same time to save time," she explains. "It was a really difficult surgery and it was technically complex, but in the end it worked."
Despite the surgery's complexity and duration, Tatyana's recovery surprised even her. "I expected to have a difficult recovery period. But it turned out to be quite comfortable. If I compare it with my first surgery in Norway, which was only 4.5 hours, that time the recovery period was much more difficult and there was a lot of pain."
Remarkable Results and Renewed Hope
The surgical outcome exceeded all expectations. "All visible clusters of cancer cells were removed," Tatyana reports with evident joy. "The comprehensive X-ray diagnosis that I have just had shows that there are no visible cancer foci at all."
Today, Tatyana is undergoing consolidation chemotherapy to maintain her surgical success, but her perspective on life has been completely transformed. "This operation saved my life. Just knowing that there are no malignancies anywhere in my body gives me hope."
The psychological impact of successful treatment extends beyond physical health. "This is a very good and positive thought, which, of course, affects my well-being, my appearance, and my quality of life. We are enjoying every day, we are happy, and we are making plans."
A Message of Hope for Other Patients
Tatyana's experience reinforced her belief in Germany's medical capabilities. "Germany is simply a land of opportunity with a variety of different treatment options, individual approaches, innovative treatments, choice of doctors, clinics, and medications."
Her advice to other patients facing similar challenges is unequivocal: "I would sincerely advise other patients to contact Booking Health, because of course they can find the best doctors. They have experience connections, they have understanding, and vision of the situation about the hospital that can help a patient at the moment."
Having learned from her initial attempts to navigate international healthcare independently, she emphasizes a crucial point: "Patients themselves are not able to find the right treatment, I have understood this from my own experience."
Tatyana's story stands as a powerful testament to the importance of never giving up hope, seeking second opinions, and exploring all available treatment options. Through professional medical tourism services like Booking Health, patients can access life-saving treatments that might otherwise remain out of reach, transforming terminal diagnoses into stories of hope and recovery.
