Competencies > Medical core competencies > Oncology
Oncology
Oncology is the medical discipline concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of tumour patients The Hirslanden Group of Private Hospitals is among the leading providers in the field of oncology and haematology in Europe. The most modern technology, the best medical infrastructure as well as many years of medical and nursing experience in caring for cancer patients give patients the needed feeling of security.
Hirslanden specialises in comprehensive treatment from the diagnosis to rehabilitation. Highly qualified specialist knowledge, the development of our own standards and a modern, seamless documentation have only one goal in mind - the recovery of our patients.
Diagnosis
The detection, the depiction and the precise localisation of the primary tumour are of the greatest importance in the successful treatment of a tumour. The most modern technologies such magnetic resonance tomography (MRT), computer tomography (CT), nuclear medicine and interventional, digital imaging procedures form the basis for making a successful diagnosis.
These methods are used especially for diseases of the brain, the spinal cord or the internal organs (e.g. prostate, lungs, and intestines). On the basis of the diagnosis specialised teams of physicians decide on therapy procedures that are individualised to the patients.
One distinguishes three main forms of therapy that can each be used individually or in combination depending on the type and localisation of the tumour.
In medical oncology chemotherapies as well as hormonal or immunotherapies are used. In order to be able to stave off side effects more effectively regular specialist examinations during and immediately after therapy are essential.
Radiooncology has experienced enormous advances in recent years. At its Institutes for Radiooncology, Hirslanden offers one of the best equipment infrastructures in all of Europe.
This includes a linear accelerator that is equipped with the latest technologies for the most modern radiotherapy. With it a treatment technology is carried out, which makes it possible to adapt the individual radiation fields to the tumour volume. The great benefit of it is the protection of adjacent healthy tissue.
As one of the first institutes in Europe the Institute for Radiooncology uses an "on board imaging" system" (OBI). This provides the ability to check the precise positioning of the patient before and during therapy and to monitor exactly the tumour behaviour under radiation. As a result the tumour can be irradiated with higher doses and the healthy surrounding tissue can be better protected. The local probability of cure is improved, and definitely fewer side effects occur.
Klinik Hirslanden started to offer tumour treatment with the CyberKnife at the beginning of March 2009. The device is used to apply a single, highly accurate, powerful dose of radiation to certain tumours. The move makes Hirslanden Radiotherapy the only radio-oncology institution in Switzerland to cover all areas of modern radiotherapy.
The CyberKnife system is the world’s only non-invasive, robot-controlled radiological system used to treat tumours at any position in the body. The device combines an image controlled tumour location function with a computer-controlled robotic arm and a system to precisely position the patient. A continuous image-guidance system with computer-controlled robot technology tracks tumour and patient movements in real-time during the whole of the treatment, identifying and correcting changes in position. A new era has dawned for affected patients: uniting state-of-the-art technologies in one device facilitates extremely precise, high dosage radiotherapy, while damage to the surrounding tissue is simultaneously minimised. Invasive head and body frames are no longer required.
These worldwide leading treatment methods and most modern surgical techniques are employed at the Hirslanden Group of Private Hospitals.
An interdisciplinary coordination of the various specialists is prerequisite for the optimal care of our patients. The teams of the Hirslanden clinics consist of specialists in radiooncology/radiation therapy, oncology/haematology, internal medicine, surgeons of the most varied disciplines and medical physicists.
In collaboration with your physician we provide the necessary follow-up examinations after your oncological treatment or operation.