EN
The incidence of cancer in the population of South Korea has increased significantly over the past decades. The Korean government has taken measures to combat this disease and its consequences. This has yielded positive results – the relative 5-year survival rate has increased from 54,1% to 71,5% (Cancer Medicine). Not surprisingly, treatment in Korea attracts a lot of attention from overseas patients due to the high level of medical care. The country is considered a leader in the development of technologies to fight cancer. It offers accurate diagnostics and effective therapies not available in many other countries. Moreover, patients receive all these advantages at an affordable price, which is 3-5 times lower than in the USA or Europe. People also note the high level of comfort in Korean clinics, which makes this country an even more attractive place for treatment.
Listen to the article:
The relative 5-year survival rate of patients after cancer treatment in Korea
Statistics from the journal Cancer Research and Treatment:
95,0% for testicular cancer;
94,4% for prostate cancer;
93,6% for breast cancer;
85,3% for Hodgkin’s lymphoma;
84,7% for kidney cancer;
80,5% for cervical cancer;
80,4% for laryngeal cancer;
77,5% for stomach cancer;
74,3% for colorectal cancer;
72,4% for uterine cancer;
68,8% for cancers of the lip, mouth and pharynx;
54,5% for leukaemia.
These figures are approximate and cannot predict the outcome for each patient. Survival prognosis depends on the stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis, the type and location of the tumour, the patient’s age, general health and the treatment used. In addition, survival statistics can change over time as methods of cancer diagnosis and treatment improve. This means that the prognosis for new patients may be more optimistic than for those diagnosed earlier.
Accurate diagnosis is the key to successful cancer treatment in Korea
The effectiveness of cancer therapy depends on how accurately a diagnosis is made.
Diagnostics in South Korea is considered one of the most accurate. Thanks to modern methods, doctors can detect the disease at the earliest stages, when even the first symptoms are absent.
In addition, modern Korean-made diagnostic devices are known for their gentle effect on the human body.
Patients undergo cancer screening in Korea using the following methods:
PET-CT – allows the detection of the smallest changes in the body with 99% accuracy.
64-slice CT – unlike previous models, this machine provides even more detailed images of internal organs.
3.0 Tesla MRI – with this equipment it is possible to distinguish tumours or metastases as small as 1 mm.
Genetic diagnostics – thanks to the latest laboratory equipment and technology, specialists can accurately identify the characteristics of tumours and learn how they will respond to certain drugs.
As one of the leaders in the development of medical equipment, South Korea offers patients the opportunity to use the latest technology, which increases the chances of successfully overcoming this serious disease. Contact MediGlobus specialists to find out about the cost of the examination in Korea and which clinic to choose.
Masters of surgery – the art of cancer treatment in Korea
South Korea offers advanced cancer surgical treatment, ensuring that patients receive the highest level of efficacy and safety.
Korean surgeons are skilled in all available techniques. They successfully perform open, minimally invasive and robotic surgeries.
Regardless of the complexity of the intervention, the doctors’ primary goal is the complete removal of the tumour with the possibility of preserving the affected organ and its functions.
Korean oncological surgeons prefer to use minimally invasive, image-guided techniques to remove malignant tumours. They are less traumatic than open surgery. For example, endoscopic removal of the neoplasm is performed without incisions, through the nose, mouth, anus, etc.; while laparoscopy requires small incisions. After these methods, the recovery of patients is several times easier and faster.
Robotic surgery is very popular in oncology departments. The DaVinci machine controls every movement of the doctor and increases the accuracy of manipulations tenfold. There is virtually no risk of injury to blood vessels or nerves. Such operations are considered the safest and are often recommended for children and the elderly.
MediGlobus can help you benefit from the expertise of Korean surgeons to treat all types of cancer. Contact us for a free consultation. We will organise your appointment and prepare everything you need for your trip as soon as possible.
Read: Future technologies – modern approaches to cancer treatment in South Korea
Korea is one of the top ten countries in terms of medical research, according to Bristol Myers Squibb Company. Clinics treat cancer using modern methods based on the latest scientific advances. Patients have access to a wide range of drugs for chemotherapy, immune and targeted therapies. Using modern protocols, doctors can select the most appropriate drug for each case. This allows them to attack the tumour more effectively, minimising side effects. Various methods of radiation therapy are also used here, from irradiation on powerful linear accelerators to brachytherapy (a method of targeting the tumour from within).
Among the modern radiotherapy techniques in Korea, the following are worth mentioning:
CyberKnife G4 | This is a unique radiosurgery system used to remove hard-to-reach tumours without surgery. The technology targets cancer cells with millimetre precision without damaging surrounding healthy tissue. The system is computer-controlled and controls the direction of the radiation in real-time. |
Elekta Infiniti Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy | This radiation therapy system is successfully used to treat large tumours. The device irradiates the tumour from all sides, thus ensuring high precision and efficiency of therapy. The procedure requires less time and a lower dose of radiation, so patients experience fewer side effects. |
Proton therapy | This is one of the effective ways of fighting cancer. The method is based on the use of protons, which have high energy and allow the most accurate delivery of radiation inside the neoplasm. Negative effects on surrounding healthy tissues are minimal, which is especially important when treating tumours in sensitive areas, such as near the eyes or in the brain. |
Survival rates for patients with different types of cancer treated at clinics in Korea are as high as 94,4% (prostate cancer), 93,6% (breast cancer), and 80,5% (cervical cancer). Such high rates are achieved thanks to the use of modern therapeutic methods. Contact MediGlobus specialists to choose a clinic and travel to Korea for treatment.
Top 5 clinics in South Korea for cancer treatment
SoonChunHyang Hospital
SoonChunHyang Hospital has been welcoming patients from all over the world for over 50 years. Oncology is one of the priority areas here. Doctors treat all kinds of malignant pathologies, including blood cancer. A bone marrow transplantation centre and a stem cell therapy department use state-of-the-art equipment for oncohematology therapy.
Doctors of the clinic actively cooperate with leading scientific centres of the world. One of the latest landmark developments of SoonChunHyang researchers is a unique operation to restore the voice of patients after throat cancer treatment. The latest CyberKnife, Novalis Tx and Elekta Infiniti linear accelerators are available for cancer patients.
A patient’s testimonial about cancer therapy at SoonChunHyang Hospital
“A year ago, my wife was diagnosed with a tumour in her brain. The doctors in Kazakhstan refused to operate. On the Internet, I found reviews of Kazakhstanis about treatment in Korea and became interested. I turned to MediGlobus for help, as it was the first time I faced such a problem and I didn’t know how to make arrangements with a clinic in another country. With their help, we made an appointment at SoonChunHyang and travelled there. Since we had all the necessary examinations at home, we did not need a diagnosis. After a couple of days, my wife was scheduled for radiosurgery. The treatment was completely painless. The procedure is similar to conventional radiation, but it lasts faster and there are not so many side effects afterwards. After the treatment, the doctor monitored my wife’s condition for 2 more days and let her go home. Soon she had a follow-up examination which showed that the tumour had shrunk. Now we hope that we will be able to remove it completely by surgery.”
Cost of cancer diagnosis and therapy at SoonChunHyang Clinic
| Procedure | Cost |
|---|---|
| Oncologist consultation | from 40$ |
| PET-CT | from $1,100 |
| MRI | from $750 |
| CT | from $500 |
| Procedure | Cost |
|---|---|
| Minimally invasive bladder tumour removal | from $4,800 |
| Brain tumour removal | from $22,000 |
| Chemotherapy | from $1,200 (per course) |
Book an appointment at the clinic
Asan Clinic
Every year, the clinic receives about 3 million patients with various diseases, one-third of them being cancer patients.
It is one of the largest hospitals in Korea and is a well-deserved winner of prestigious awards and certificates: a distinction from the Korean Standards Association for the high quality of medical care, an “All-Star” ranking among the best Korean medical centres and a leading position in the Newsweek magazine’s ranking of the world’s top 100 medical centres.
Doctors at Asan Hospital have led a research programme to develop new chemotherapy methods to fight aggressive forms of cancer.
Since then, Asan surgeons have accumulated a tremendous amount of experience in performing life-saving surgeries on cancer patients. For example, they have performed more than 20,000 endoscopic surgeries to resect stomach tumours and the same number for breast cancer. If a woman’s breast cannot be saved, Korean surgeons reconstruct it using modern plastic and reconstructive surgery techniques.
Diagnosis of prostate cancer patients here takes only 1 day, after which treatment – minimally invasive or robotic surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy – can be started immediately.
“Since 2006, we have been offering patients a multidisciplinary cancer treatment system in which five to six specialists in fields such as internal medicine, surgery, radiology, radiation oncology and pathology work with cancer patients,” says Asan Hospital Cancer Institute President Tae Won Kim about the comprehensive approach to cancer therapy. “These multidisciplinary teams discuss each case in detail and schedule the patient’s treatment.”
In 2019, nearly 5,000 patients went through the process.
Testimonial about cancer therapy at Asan Clinic
“When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I was very concerned about the possible consequences of surgery and therapy. I decided to go to Asan Clinic in Korea, as the level of medicine in this country is excellent. In addition, the prices were affordable for my budget. The doctors recommended surgical removal of the tumour using a minimally invasive method. As a result, my fears were in vain. The surgery went without complications and I recovered quite quickly. Now I am preparing for the next stage of therapy and I am confident that the treatment will help me to be cured of cancer and preserve all functions of the sexual system. I am deeply grateful to this clinic and recommend it to anyone looking for the best level of medical care.”
Cost of Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy at Asan Medical Centre
| Procedure | Cost |
|---|---|
| Specialist consultation | from $80 |
| PET-CT | from $1,500 |
| MRI | from $700 |
| CT | from $680 |
| Procedure | Cost |
|---|---|
| Cancer screening (Check Up) | from $2,500 |
| Transurethral resection of prostate | from $5,350 |
| Gastric cancer surgery | from $14,000 |
| Breast resection | from $10,000 |
Seoul University Hospital
Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) has been seeing patients for over 120 years. During this time, it has earned an impeccable reputation as one of the strongest medical centres in Korea, which is confirmed by the ISQUA international accreditation certificate.
This medical centre is the 8th in the world in terms of research, clinical trials and implementation of the latest developments. For example, in the field of oncology alone, 150 studies were conducted in 2018.
Every year, the Oncology Department performs about 700 surgical operations on the brain and spinal cord and 600 removals of malignant brain tumours using radiosurgery. The latest Gamma Knife unit allows to remove or significantly reduce neoplasm without a single incision in places that even the most experienced neurosurgeon cannot reach. After the treatment, the patient spends no more than 2 days in hospital.
In addition, about 1,000 operations for stomach cancer treatment, 1,200 for breast cancer, transplantation of internal organs and bone marrow and other types of oncology treatment are performed here annually. The doctors are skilled in modern organ-preserving surgical techniques.
Review of cancer therapy at Seoul University Hospital
“I had the opportunity to have chemotherapy at Seoul University Hospital. A special thanks to the MediGlobus coordinator who recommended it to me. I was very afraid of this procedure as I had heard how people suffer from side effects. The doctor explained to me in detail how the drugs would affect my body, which helped me to prepare myself psychologically for the possible consequences. Throughout the treatment, great attention was paid to my comfort. Unpleasant symptoms were tried to be relieved with the help of medication, which gave tangible results. I can’t say it was easy for me, but I got through it. On top of everything else, I was given great emotional support. The medical staff was always there to support me in my most difficult moments. I am very grateful to them for that! As a result, the chemotherapy has helped to reduce the size of the tumour and I am experiencing positive changes in my condition. I have more surgery ahead of me. Thanks to the wonderful team at the clinic, I feel hopeful and confident that I will successfully overcome the disease.”
Cost of cancer treatment in Korea at SNUH Hospital
| Procedure | Cost |
|---|---|
| Doctor’s consultation | from $50 |
| PET-CT | from $1,800 |
| Blood Cancer Diagnosis | from $6,000 |
| Cancer Check-Up | from $1,220 |
| Procedure | Cost |
|---|---|
| Radiosurgery (Gamma Knife) | from $19,000 |
| Chemotherapy | from $2,000 per course |
| Radiation therapy | from $650 per course |
Samsung Clinic
The medical complex has been awarded leadership in NCSI rating 14 times for high-quality medical services and patient comfort. It is also a holder of a JCI certificate.
The clinic is active in the development of innovative methods of cancer treatment. Among its partners are Johns Hopkins Medical Centre, Anderson Cancer Centre, Cedars Sinai Hospital in the USA and leading medical research centres in China, Japan and other countries.
The equipment of Samsung Clinic is one of the best in Korea. Two Gamma Knife radiosurgery devices are used here at once – Icon and Perfexion models. In addition to the main types of treatment, patients have access to the latest and most effective methods of cancer therapy, for example, radiofrequency ablation for inoperable kidney cancer, all kinds of gene technologies are used to detect cell mutations and transplantation of internal organs and bone marrow are performed. It is thanks to this progressive approach that Samsung has some of the best survival rates for patients with various cancers.
Patient’s Testimonial about Samsung Clinic
“Immunotherapy has literally become my salvation. This treatment is not available in my home country, so I had to turn to specialists abroad. My choice fell on the Korean clinic Samsung. Before the treatment, the doctor told me that this method would activate my immune system so that it could deal with the tumour more effectively. The immunotherapy was given intravenously and I felt quite comfortable during the procedure. Over time, I noticed improvements in my condition. My doctors monitored my progress and carried out regular follow-up examinations. The treatment gave me more strength and energy and the tumour started to shrink. I am deeply grateful to the clinic and the staff at Samsung. Immunotherapy has been my hope for recovery and I can confidently say that it has helped me cope with the challenges of the disease.”
Cost of cancer diagnosis and therapy at Samsung Centre
| Procedure | Cost |
|---|---|
| Oncologist consultation | from $100-150 |
| MRI | from $1,100 |
| Robotic prostatectomy | from $17,900 |
| Procedure | Cost |
|---|---|
| Robotic nephrectomy | from $15,900 |
| Robotic hysterectomy | from $18,600 |
Anam Medical Centre
The clinic opened in 1983. Approximately 1,5 million patients come here every year. The facility has won the Patients’ Choice Award, has been certified by the South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare and JCI, and has been awarded FERCAP certification for research and clinical trials.
The clinic uses a special computer system for patient care. Thanks to it, the waiting time for the required procedures has been significantly reduced, and the full diagnostic procedure together with the results takes a maximum of 3 days.
The latest equipment from the world’s leading manufacturers is used here for cancer diagnosis and treatment – powerful MRI, CT, PET-CT, linear accelerators of the latest generation, tomotherapy units (a radiotherapy method that combines radiotherapy and CT in one system) and many others.
Anam Hospital was one of the first hospitals in Korea to use surgical robots to treat various types of cancer. Today, surgeons have the latest model of the Da Vinci Xi robot at their disposal. It allows surgeons to operate on patients with tumours in hard-to-reach places. Doctors also use it to perform breast reconstruction after mastectomy. The stitches after such an intervention are practically invisible.
Review of Anam Clinic in Korea
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Anam Clinic in South Korea for the quality diagnostics. After identifying suspicious symptoms, I did not hesitate and decided to undergo an examination in Korea. My close friend was treated there and was very satisfied with the result. My expectations were more than justified. The diagnostic process was very well organised – first, we had extensive medical examinations, including mammography and MRI, and then a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. I was amazed at how competently the doctors and staff communicated with the patients, they were attentive to my every question, explained all the stages of the examination and discussed possible treatment options. After 3 days I received detailed information about my condition. I am now continuing my treatment. However, thanks to timely diagnostics, I started the therapy on time and the doctors give me high chances of full recovery.”
Prices for cancer diagnosis and treatment at Anam Hospital
| Procedure | Cost |
|---|---|
| MRI | from $1,120 |
| PET-CT | $1,633 |
| Robotic surgery for myoma removal | from $22,065 |
| Процедура | Стоимость |
|---|---|
| Thyroidectomy | from $7,944 |
| Laparoscopic ovarian resection | from $8,826 |
| Breast mastectomy with reconstruction | from $44,131 |
Summary
In recent decades, South Korea has experienced a significant increase in the incidence of cancer. In response to this problem, the government has taken extensive measures to combat the disease. Thanks to these efforts, the relative 5-year survival rate of cancer patients has increased from 54,1% to 71,5%, demonstrating the positive results and effectiveness of Korea’s medical system.
In Korea, a cancer diagnosis is considered one of the most accurate. Doctors use modern diagnostic machines that are gentle and harmless to the body, including PET-CT, 64-slice CT, Tesla 3.0 MRI, and more.
South Korea offers modern surgical methods of cancer treatment that are highly effective and safe for patients. Surgeons successfully apply open surgery, minimally invasive and robotic surgeries. The main goal of these interventions is the complete removal of the tumour. Specialists try to preserve the organ and its functions. Minimally invasive methods with visualisation control and robotic surgery are particularly popular as they reduce the risk of trauma and promote faster recovery.
Innovative methods of cancer treatment are actively used in Korea, as the country is one of the world’s leaders in research and development. Patients are provided with a wide range of modern drugs for chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy, which allows for a more precise selection of the optimal drug for each case. The clinics also utilise advanced radiotherapy techniques including CyberKnife G4, Elekta Infiniti Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy and proton therapy. The new models provide precise tumour irradiation, minimise damage to healthy tissue and reduce side effects.
The best hospitals in Korea for oncology treatment are SoonChunHyang, Asan, Anam, Samsung, and Seoul University Hospital.
Reviews about oncology treatment in Korea are mostly positive. Patients note the high level of medical care, the professionalism of doctors, and the use of modern methods of therapy, which helped them cope with the disease and return to a full life. Many appreciate the individual approach to patients and attentive care, which contribute to rapid recovery.
Go for cancer treatment in Korea, where the latest therapies, experienced specialists and state-of-the-art technology await you. Contact MediGlobus for assistance. We will provide you with the information you need, make an appointment without a waiting list and organise your trip abroad. Click on the button below, enter your phone number and wait for a coordinator to call you.
Sources:
- 1. Cancer care patterns in South Korea: Types of hospital where patients receive care and outcomes using national health insurance claims data
- 2. What is efficiency in Japan and Korea
- 3. Cancer Statistics in Korea: Incidence, Mortality, Survival, and Prevalence in 2019
- 4. Precision medicine and cancer care pioneers in South Korea
