Interventional radiology methods are currently being used for the treatment of patients with unresectable primary and metastatic cancer. They have several advantages over systemic chemotherapy. Injecting the drug directly into the arteries of the organ and metastatic nodes makes it possible to achieve locally therapeutic concentration with a much lower total drug dose.
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How does transarterial chemoembolization work?
Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a procedure in which a chemotherapy drug is injected into the tumor using a catheter, and the surrounding vessels are purposefully blocked. This makes it possible to limit the systemic effects of chemotherapeutic agents and thereby protect the entire body. This form of therapy is used in particular to treat liver tumors, which are characterized by an intensive blood supply.
Like other liver tumors and metastases, hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer) receives its blood supply primarily through the hepatic artery. In contrast, the portal vein is primarily responsible for the blood supply to normal liver tissue. This is where transarterial chemoembolization comes into play.
What can be treated with transarterial chemoembolization?
Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) can be administered for a variety of conditions. The procedure can be used when metastases cannot be removed surgically or when the patients do not respond to systemic chemotherapy. To undergo TACE, the patient must be in good general health, have normal vascular architecture, an open portal vein, and have a satisfactory liver function.
It is often used for patients with the primary focus on palliative therapy, i.e. for improving the patient's quality of life. In addition, transarterial chemoembolization can be used to treat tumors that are initially inoperable due to their size.
Before making conclusions about indications, let’s take a look at general contraindications for transarterial chemoembolization, which include:
- Decompensated cirrhosis
- Thrombosis of the main branches or trunk of the portal vein
- Gastrointestinal bleedings
- Ascites that cannot be treated
- Severe clotting disorders
Transarterial chemoembolization cost
With transarterial chemoembolization, one of the advantages is that it is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed in an outpatient setting.
The cost of transarterial chemoembolization will vary mainly depending on the diagnosis it is applied to treat and some other factors. You can check out how much the procedure cost varies among different diagnoses below:
- Percutaneous embolization or chemoembolization for liver cancer costs start at 4,640 EUR
- Percutaneous embolization or chemoembolization for liver metastases costs start at 4,676 EUR
- Embolization or chemoembolization for cholangiocarcinoma (Klatskin tumor) costs 23,772 EUR
- Embolization or chemoembolization for kidney cancer costs 23,805 EUR
- Embolization or chemoembolization for colon cancer costs 23,650 EUR
And many other pathologies can be treated with transarterial chemoembolization. You can check out transarterial chemoembolization cost on the Booking Health website.
How to go for transarterial chemoembolization abroad during a lockdown?
Booking Health offers you a reliable option of organizing the treatment abroad, so you don’t have to second-guess and worry about quickly changing lockdown rules. This aspect alone allows you to save a significant amount of money.
With medical tourism, you don’t have to go through trial and error. And Booking Health is a perfect example of that. The company helps you choose the hospital according to your needs or preferences and takes upon itself the matters of communication with the hospital and organizational issues. On the contrary, when organizing everything by yourself, the language barrier may be an obstacle, and you can wait quite long before the hospital responds, while you require prompt treatment. Booking Health also has the latest information on the lockdown rules. Wherever you decide to go, Booking Health will get you a medical visa.
If you want your treatment to start with no delays, if you want to save money, and most importantly, your energy, then try the services of Booking Health. You are welcome to check out the information about the company on the official website.
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