As of last month my mother (88 years old) was living with me in Cyprus. In June she went back to Germany to avoid the summer heat in Cyprus but had planned to return soon. However, this week she was diagnosed with cancer (still not sure which type) and now the question is whether she could expect the same quality of treatment in Cyprus she can have in Germany or whether she should better not return and get treatment there.
Does anyone have experience with cancer treatment / palliative care in the Larnaca area? If so, please share.
The procedure is very simple. Depending on the diagnosis and type of cancer, she should see any specialist of the organ concerned. He will make an evaluation from her notes and refer her to a specialist at the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre in Nicosia. This is a world-leading centre for the treatments of all types of cancer with over 30 full-time specialists for different types. If the patient is entitled to 'free' medical care in Cyprus, it applies similarly here, in the same way as the general hospitals, but they also take private patients. Unlike the general hospitals, the BOCOC is well organised.
There is another newly opened oncology centre in Limassol which has been getting a good press, as well.
Links only visible to Registered Members Register for Free or Login to the forum.
My wife and I both have experience of the Oncology Centre in Nicosia and, as Devil says, it really is top class. To get free treatment there she will need a Cyprus medical card, I think. There is also free transport there by the Pasycaf bus service.
_________________ "He who is satisfied is well served" - Merchant of Venice
My wife and I both have experience of the Oncology Centre in Nicosia and, as Devil says, it really is top class. To get free treatment there she will need a Cyprus medical card, I think. There is also free transport there by the Pasycaf bus service.
Thanks for your reply.
She would be entitled for a Cyprus medical card but I´m worried about how long it would take to get it once you´ve made an application for it. There is no time to waste for bureauceratic procedures. I´ll rather ask her German health insurance to cover the cost of treatment. I doubt it will be higher than it would be in Germany. So I don´t see why they should refuse.
May I ask you about your experience as far as getting treatment speedily is concerned? Will you have to wait for appointments? E. g. will you get an appointment for a CT or MRI scan or radiation within a day or two or will you have to wait for weeks? Same question for specialists. Do they offer physiotherapy at those centers as well? Lot´s of questions I´ll have to find out.
Given that she has no command of Greek and only little command of English I wonder whether the German Oncology center in Limassol will have German speaking staff.
The Bank of Cyprus Oncology all speak excellent English, there is even a German oncology nurse who administers Chemo treatment, so language would not be a problem. There is very little waiting lists for CT and MRI scans in the centre, the only piece of equipment they do not have is a PET scan as the cost of one of these is millions, although they arranged for me to go a hospital in Athens for one.
Their follow up treatment is also 2nd to none. The above info was from 4 years ago, but I visit every 6 months for checkups.
May I ask you about your experience as far as getting treatment speedily is concerned? Will you have to wait for appointments? E. g. will you get an appointment for a CT or MRI scan or radiation within a day or two or will you have to wait for weeks? Same question for specialists. Do they offer physiotherapy at those centers as well?
I had my first appointment within a matter of a few days from referral by a urologist. If necessary, treatment will follow rapidly. Physiotherapy will be offered, provided it is in relation to the cancer.
My wife did a sort of Mixture of treatment for breast cancer. It was diagnosed at a private doctors in Paphos.. She had Chemotherapy treatment at a private hospital in Paphos but the drugs were free on the Cypriot health service.
She had a removal operation privately in Paphos. But then she had radiology treatment daily at the BOCOC in Nicosia... She still goes there for scans and checkups
My wife and I both have experience of the Oncology Centre in Nicosia and, as Devil says, it really is top class. To get free treatment there she will need a Cyprus medical card, I think. There is also free transport there by the Pasycaf bus service.
Thanks for your reply.
She would be entitled for a Cyprus medical card but I´m worried about how long it would take to get it once you´ve made an application for it. There is no time to waste for bureauceratic procedures. I´ll rather ask her German health insurance to cover the cost of treatment. I doubt it will be higher than it would be in Germany. So I don´t see why they should refuse.
May I ask you about your experience as far as getting treatment speedily is concerned? Will you have to wait for appointments? E. g. will you get an appointment for a CT or MRI scan or radiation within a day or two or will you have to wait for weeks? Same question for specialists. Do they offer physiotherapy at those centers as well? Lot´s of questions I´ll have to find out.
Given that she has no command of Greek and only little command of English I wonder whether the German Oncology center in Limassol will have German speaking staff.
The head oncologist in Nicosia, Dr. Katodritis, speaks good German and we know of at least one nurse there who also does. They are very common sense there and will make appointments as required.
_________________ "He who is satisfied is well served" - Merchant of Venice
Sorry to hear about your mother, it really please's me to hear all the positive feed back you have had, well done Cyprus, the only thing you might want to ask is, if your mother needs after care at home? I know in England there are nurses/carers that visit you in your home, is there any thing like that here in Cyprus?
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum