Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
06:20
Irradiator Commissioning and Dosimetry for Assessment of LQ α and β Parameters, Radiation Dosing Schema, and in vivo Dose Deposition
Published on: March 11, 2021
Radiation oncology facilities in Turkey: current status and future perspectives
Fatih Goksel1, Orhan Koc, Nejat Ozgul
1General Secretariat of Curative Services, Turkish Ministry of Health, Turkey. fatihgoksel@gmail.com
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention : APJCP
|February 3, 2012
Summary
Turkey has a surplus of radiation oncologists but a shortage of megavoltage machines and other staff. Strategic resource allocation and national planning are crucial for cancer control.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiotherapy
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Assessing the current radiotherapy landscape in Turkey is vital for future planning.
- International benchmarks and national ministerial plans inform future demand analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a comprehensive baseline of radiotherapy status in Turkey.
- To analyze future radiotherapy demand based on international standards.
- To provide a model for comprehensive planning in developing nations.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide survey of all radiotherapy centers in Turkey was conducted.
- Data collection included major equipment, personnel, and cross-verification with government records.
- Manpower data was sourced from academic institutions and professional associations.
Main Results:
- Turkey diagnoses 150,000 new cancer cases annually, with 400,000 living with cancer.
- Approximately 100,000 patients annually require radiotherapy, projected to rise to 170,000 by 2023.
- Current resources include 90 centers, 186 megavoltage machines, 446 radiation oncologists, 130 medical physicists, and 600 technicians. Projections for 2023 indicate a need for 379 machines, 680 radiation oncologists, 624 medical physicists, and 2,650 technicians.
Conclusions:
- Turkey exhibits an oversupply of radiation oncologists but a significant undersupply of megavoltage equipment and other essential personnel.
- Strategic resource allocation is necessary to address the identified disparities.
- Equipment procurement and workforce policies must be integrated into the national cancer control program.
Related Concept Videos
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
01:17Radiation: Applications
The average temperature of Earth is the subject of much current discussion. Earth is in radiative contact with both the Sun and dark space; it receives almost all its energy from the radiation of the Sun and reflects some of it into outer space. Dark space is very cold, about 3 K, so Earth radiates energy into it. For instance, heat transfer occurs from soil and grasses, the rate of which can be so rapid that frost can occur on clear summer evenings, even in warm latitudes.
The average...
The average...
02:56Treatment Resistent Cancers
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
01:29Positron Emission Tomography
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique involving radiopharmaceuticals — substances that emit short-lived radiation. Although the first PET scanner was introduced in 1961, it took 15 more years before radiopharmaceuticals were combined with the technique and revolutionized its potential.
One of the main requirements of a PET scan is a positron-emitting radioisotope, which is produced in a cyclotron and then attached to a substance used by the part of the body being...
One of the main requirements of a PET scan is a positron-emitting radioisotope, which is produced in a cyclotron and then attached to a substance used by the part of the body being...
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
01:25Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique that provides crucial insights into the body's physiological functions at a molecular level. It is an indispensable resource for diagnosing, staging, and monitoring various illnesses, notably cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular conditions.
Fundamental Principles of PET
Fundamental Principles of PET