You are a suitable candidate for melanoma surgery if the cancer is localized, typically stage 0 to II, or stage III involving regional lymph nodes. Evaluation requires assessing tumor thickness, location, and your ability to undergo anesthesia at JCI-accredited facilities like Anadolu Medical Center.
- Melanoma stage: Standard for stages 0–III; helps prevent further spread to internal organs.
- Tumor thickness: Critical for Breslow depth; lesions over 1 mm usually require sentinel node biopsy.
- Surgical techniques: Options include wide local excision or Mohs microsurgery for sensitive facial areas.
- Health status: Candidates must have stable heart health and controlled chronic conditions like diabetes.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data from 8,000+ requests shows international suitability drops from 90% to 60% after expert review. To avoid unnecessary travel, ship your biopsy slides to Istanbul for a pre-operative pathology review. Professor Haluk Duman at Anadolu Medical Center specializes in post-cancer reconstruction, which is vital for facial tumors.
Patient Consensus: Many patients emphasize that getting a second opinion in Turkey happened in under 1 week. They strongly advise bringing English pathology reports and budgeting for a sentinel node biopsy if the tumor is deep.