10 best cancer centers in the world: Bookimed ranking

Cancer is one of the most pressing health problems of all time. By 2050, the number of new cancer cases will reach 35 million, based on population growth. Cancer diagnosis is common in high-income countries, primarily because of the prevalence of risk factors, such as smoking and obesity.

We picked the top 10 cancer centers worldwide based on Bookimed’s Smart Ranking System. The information is under the responsibility of hospital representatives and is not a call to action.

Our experts took into account the following criteria:

• Patient reviews;
• Center success rates;
• Doctor’s expertise;
• Innovative methods of diagnostics and treatment.

Here’s the list of the top 10 cancer hospitals in the world.

Cancer Center	Country	Bookimed Rating
Centro Médico Teknon	Spain	4.7 (397 reviews)
Anadolu Medical Center	Turkey	4.6 (463 reviews)
Memorial Şişli Hospital	Turkey	4.6 (278 reviews)
Wiener Privatklinik	Austria	4.6 (135 reviews)
Medipol Mega University Hospital	Turkey	4.5 (458 reviews)
Liv Hospital Ulus	Turkey	4.5 (217 reviews)
Hisar Intercontinental Hospital	Turkey	4.5 (129 reviews)
Asklepios Hospital Barmbek	Germany	4.5 (118 reviews)
Memorial Antalya Hospital	Turkey	4.5 (96 reviews)
Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)	Israel	4.4 (138 reviews)

Centro Médico Teknon — Barcelona, Spain

Teknon Hospital is a private clinic in Barcelona. Patients from all over the world come here, from online consultations to complex surgeries.

Since 2014, Teknon Hospital has worked on the premises of Quironsalud Hospitals Group. This is the largest hospital group in Europe, with over 60 years of history. Dr. Raimon Miralbell is an oncologist with over 45 years of experience.

Dr. Bartolome Oliver, a top-rated neuro-oncologist, specializes in non-invasive radiosurgery using CyberKnife and Novalis. Plus, Instituto Oncológico Teknon is the only center in South Europe that has a micro-multislice accelerator system specially intended for brain tumors in adults and children.

To guarantee precision oncology, the Hospital offers the following diagnostic methods:

• Genomic profiling. Explains how normal cells transform into cancer cells. After collecting the blood or tissue sample, oncologists can tell a tumor's cell types and how they interact with the environment.
• Liquid biopsy. Enables doctors to understand the tumor’s nature through a blood sample. Following the DNA traces of a tumor, the doctors can prescribe a targeted medication to prevent metastasis and speed up the remission.

Anadolu Medical Center — İstanbul, Turkey

Anadolu Medical Center adheres to the American treatment standards. It affiliates with Johns Hopkins Hospital, one of the best facilities in the United States. The hospital has 9 oncology departments. Oncologists here create the best conditions for treating any type of cancer.

Anadolu Hospital is well-known for its bone marrow transplantation services. The center is equipped to perform operations on 22 patients simultaneously. Professor Zafer Gulbas, who heads the Bone Marrow Center, is the No. 1 hematologist in Turkey.

Here’s the list of main advantages Anadolu offers for patients:

• Cutting-edge technologies. The doctors use CyberKnife M6, Radixact, and EDGE to diagnose and treat cancer.
• Affordable packages. Like most cancer centers in Turkey, Anadolu offers 20-30% lower rates than the clinics abroad (for example, the approximate cost of Da Vinci robot-assisted surgery is $21,000 in Anadolu, compared to the $26,000 at Assuta Medical Center in Tel Aviv).
• Awarded doctors. The Anadolu doctors widely apply the CTC (Circulating Tumor Cells) method, which has the potential of a “liquid biopsy” and is FDA-certified.

Thanks to scientific discoveries and affordable costs, Anadolu Medical Center can diagnose patients early before the tumor reaches a critical size.

Memorial Şişli Hospital — Istanbul, Turkey

Memorial Şişli Hospital is the most popular medical center in Istanbul: patients from 92 countries choose it for treatment every year. The doctors at the Oncology Department follow top international guidelines to ensure patients receive the best care.

Surgeons at Memorial Şişli specialize in minimally invasive procedures using the Da Vinci robotic system, e. These surgeries include tiny incisions, about 1-3cm, leaving no visible scars.

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“Da Vinci Robotic Surgery” enlarges tissues 20 times their actual size. It helps treat urological types of cancer, including prostate or testicular tumors, without losing the patient's sexual function.

Wiener Privatklinik — Vienna, Austria

Wiener Privatklinik is a private hospital connected with Nobel Prize winners. Even Sigmund Freud practiced in the clinic years ago. In 2023, Wiener Privatklinik earned the World's Best Hospitals 2023 spot from Newsweek.

Over 7,000 patients come to the Clinic annually. They choose it because of smooth service processes and top-notch staff competence.

One of the best oncologists in Europe, Univ. Dr. Christoph Zielinski manages the Cancer Center. He received the Honorary Degree (Doctor Honoris Causa) from Titu Maiorescu University in 2013 and has over 40 years of experience in cancer treatment.

Wiener Privatklinik is well-known for its Prostate Cancer Center. The radiation therapy team is a member of Amethyst Radiotherapy, Europe’s fast-growing cancer facility.

With more than 12,000 admissions per year, the Prostate Cancer Center offers a comprehensive range of procedures:

• Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT). Wiener Privatklinik is the only hospital in Austria offering SBRT radiotherapy. This treatment allows to administer higher doses of radiation in a few sessions.
• Radio Ligand Therapy. This method uses a radioactive isotope called Lutetium 177-PSMA to bind with a drug and then destroy cancer cells on the spot. This therapy is especially effective for metastatic cancer, as it reaches different body locations without intervention.

The doctors use hydrogel to create a gap between the prostate and rectum, reducing radiation spread to the intestines. It works excellent for tumor targeting, minimizing the number of sessions (from 39 to 7) and reducing exposure time (the patients can complete their treatment plan in 2.5 weeks instead of 8).

Medipol Mega University Hospital — Istanbul, Turkey

Medipol University Hospital accepts nearly 1,200 patients daily. It has all the latest equipment to treat cancer, such as the Da Vinci Surgical System, Cyber, and Gamma Knives.

Bookimed partners with top hospitals in Turkey, including Medipol Mega University Hospital, the country's first private medical complex.

The Hospital has an Interventional Neuroradiology Department for treating brain and spinal cord tumors. The doctors use high-quality imaging techniques instead of classic surgery methods.

Gamma Knife is one of the most famous and commonly used methods in Medipol Hospital. It is a golden standard of brain surgery because of low exposure to healthy brain tissues. Gamma Knife minimizes the risk of infections and does not require general anesthesia during surgery.

The doctors use it for:

• Benign brain tumors. Such as meningioma, pituitary adenomas, and acoustic neuromas;
• Malignant brain tumors. Such as brain metastases, glial tumors;
• Vascular brain diseases. Such as arteriovenous malformations.

Gamma Knife treatment duration varies between 15 minutes and a few hours. One day after treatment, the patient returns to everyday life.

By choosing Medipol through Bookimed, patients can receive care at one of Turkey's top clinics. The ultra-modern equipment and advanced technologies at Medipol Mega Hospital help speed recovery.

Liv Hospital Ulus — Istanbul, Turkey

Liv Hospital Ulus is a smart facility that uses innovative medical technologies. It accepts around 331,500 patients every year.

The hospital consists of a few treatment centers. The biggest ones are:

• Bone Marrow Transplant Center

The Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Center at Liv Hospital has already performed over 1,000 transplants.

The doctors offer a few types of transplants:

• Autologous, with the patient's cells.
• Allogenic, with donor (related or unrelated) cells;
• Haploidentical (half-matched; mother, father, brother);
• Unrelated (Transfer from an unrelated donor).

The center uses immunomagnetic cell separation to collect CD34+ cells and sort other types of cells according to the transplant requirements. Plus, the doctors perform post-procedure immunological treatments using Lymphocyte and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Infusions to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GvHD).

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• Cancer Center

Liv Hospital's oncologists treat all types of cancer. Liv doctors use Cold Cap Therapy to reduce the scalp’s temperature. It narrows blood vessels, allowing fewer chemicals to enter the bloodstream. It helps to prevent hair loss after chemotherapy.

Another authentic method is Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH). It is a technique that breast cancer patients use during radiotherapy. Holding a deep breath helps slow down radiation's impact on the heart and lungs. Conversely, it concentrates the treatment dose on the tumor location.

• Pediatric Hematology Clinic

Liv Hospital uses a single-dose radiotherapy for treating leukemias, lymphomas, and brain tumors. It aims to target the modified tissues with high doses of radiation to destroy the cell’s DNA./p>

This method has the following benefits:

• The treatment duration is one session;
• Suitable for metastatic cancer;
• The lower systemic impact of radiation.

Hisar Intercontinental Hospital — Istanbul, Turkey

Hisar Intercontinental Hospital has a certification from JCI (Joint Commission International) and accepts 250,000 patients annually. The hospital serves adults only.

Hisar Intercontinental Hospital has a specialized Gynecologic Oncology department. The doctors successfully conduct Pap (short for “Papanicolaou”) smear tests to prevent early cervical cancer incidence.

The leading gynecologic oncologist, Dr. Kadir Guzin, has already performed over 800 cancer surgeries and has broad experience in treating any stage of cancer in women.

Advantages of Hisar Hospital Intercontinental

• Safe Treatment.
  The automated PYXIS system ensures accurate medication by scanning a patient's fingerprint to provide the correct drug and dosage;

• Advanced Equipment.
  The hospital uses state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, including the Aquilion 640-slice CT and 3 Tesla MRI. The CT scanner offers high-quality images with lower radiation, while the MRI features a quieter, open design, making it suitable for patients with claustrophobia.

Asklepios Hospital Barmbek — Hamburg, Germany

Asklepios Hospital Barmbek is a part of Asklepios Kliniken, the most significant German hospitals' network. The Oncology Department doctors at Asklepios treat all types of cancer. Every year the Department accepts nearly 16,000 patients.

The benefits of receiving treatment here are:

• Asklepios Barmbek offers a comfortable stay and transparent information about treatment;
• Patients from around the world can receive targeted therapy, minimally invasive procedures, and precise radiotherapy;
• The clinic has a safety committee that oversees procedures. Each patient receives a unique bracelet to prevent medication errors.

A multidisciplinary approach to treatment allows specialists to avoid medical errors. The patient receives a comprehensive treatment plan from a team of doctors. This includes:

• Oncologist;
• Surgeon;
• Radiologist;
• Chemotherapy specialist.

It works better than the case when doctors independently prescribe treatment.

Memorial Antalya Hospital — Antalya, Turkey

Memorial Antalya Hospital is one of the biggest in the Memorial Health Group chain. It receives 1,600,000 patients annually.

Cancer care at the Hospital follows international guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).

In addition to the classic chemotherapy treatments, the doctors at Memorial Hospital apply “smart” targeted drug and molecule applications to maximize treatment effectiveness.

The TrueBeam STx and Elekta Versa Signuture HD are the most popular options for targeting cancer cells without damaging healthy tissues. The accurate dose determination ensures less likely side effects and simultaneous imaging.

Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) — Tel-Aviv, Israel

Sourasky Medical Center is on the list of Israel’s World’s Best Hospitals 2024 by Newsweek. Oncology and Onco-Hematology are among its strongest specialties. Sourasky accepts over 40,000 cancer patients every year. The doctors here work on new treatment methods and have numerous awards for scientific discoveries.

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Sourasky Medical Center collaborates with Roche Pharmaceuticals to offer FoundationOne, a cutting-edge genetic test to determine a patient’s sensitivity to medications. This test delivers highly comprehensive, accurate, and detailed insights into the genetic profiles of cancer cells.

The Medical Center has four linear accelerators for successful cancer radiation therapy. There are also two new devices available, one of the best in Israel:

• Linac MRI UNITY by Elekta. A system that combines a wired accelerator with a diagnostic MRI tool. It carries out the adaptive treatments in real-time, ensuring the precise impact on the tumor;
• Advanced CT-guided radiation accelerator. The sophisticated accelerator ETHOS adjusts to the tumor anatomy. It also creates a treatment plan in real-time using the AI feature.

For the radiotherapy treatment, the doctors use Novalis TrueBeam STx, the latest linear accelerator, which reduces the damage to healthy tissues.

The other oncology advancement is brain tumor catheterization. It works for the tumors located near the blood vessels. The doctors cover these vessels with a special block to prevent excessive blood loss during surgeries.

Key Takeaways

Bookimed has chosen the Top 10 cancer centers based on various criteria. These hospitals have the newest equipment and treatment strategies, such as targeted therapy, radiotherapy, and minimally invasive surgery.

Based on our ranking:

• The best cancer hospitals operate in Turkey, with an average rate of 4.6;
• Anadolu Medical Center has the most affordable rates;
• Sourasky Medical Center is widely known for its scientific discoveries, such as the CTC method for early cancer detection.

How to Find the Best Option with Bookimed

1. Choose a medical center.

Submit your request on our website. The Bookimed coordinator will contact you to suggest the most suitable clinic based on your treatment needs.

2. Share your medical records.

Send the examination results, such as previous CT/MRT scans and history of appointments. A doctor will assess the case and determine the appropriate therapy options. We will also send you the approximate cost estimate and the package details.

3. Handle travel arrangements.

Once the clinic and cost are approved, your Bookimed manager will help with travel arrangements, including organizing airport transfers and booking a hotel.

4. Visit the clinic.

The Bookimed team will be in touch 24/7 during your travels. We will assist with any inquiries, such as transfers, language, hotels, etc.

For an in-depth look at the top cancer centers, take a look at the interview with Dr. Ofer Merimsky, the clinical oncologist from Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv.

FAQ

1. Which country has the best cancer survival?

The United States has the highest overall cancer survival rate, with survival rates of 97.4% for prostate cancer, 90.2% for breast cancer, and 33.1% for stomach cancer.

2. What is the most advanced cancer treatment in the world?

Immunotherapy is a significant advancement in cancer treatment. It stimulates the body's immune system to battle oncological disease. This approach can cure various types of cancer and works well with surgery or chemotherapy.

3. What are the best cancer centers in Israel?

The top-ranked institutions in Israel are:

• Sheba Medical Center;
• Sourasky Medical Center;
• Rambam Medical Center.

4. How do these cancer centers support patients beyond medical treatment?

The best cancer centers offer a complex approach to cancer patients. Besides modern technology tools, they have additional support services to make every visitor feel at home while undergoing treatment.

These include, but are not limited to:

• Psychological counseling for patients and their families;
• Rehabilitation programs;
• Nutritional guidance;
• Transfers to/from the hospital;
• Language assistance.

5. What is the success rate of cancer treatment at the top oncology hospitals?

The success rates vary depending on country and cancer type. For example, the success rate for treating prostate cancer at Sourasky Medical Center is 90%. Memorial Şişli Hospital conducts bone marrow transplants with an overall 80-90% survival rate. These examples illustrate the advanced capabilities of these institutions in managing complex cancer cases.

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