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Esophageal Cancer

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Prof. Dr. Oktar ASOĞLU

Vişnezade Mahallesi Acısu Sokak Salihbey Apt. No:16 Kat:4 D:5 Maçka, Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Turkey

About Clinic

In 1996, he became a specialist in the Department of General Surgery of the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine. In the same year, he attended the courses organized by the Istanbul Medical Faculty General Surgery Department and received his gastrointestinal endoscopy and surgical laparoscopy certificates. He was deemed worthy of an award by operating 500 cases of gunshot wounds at the Van Military Hospital, where he went to complete his military service, during a time when terrorism was most intense, and not losing any patients. The experience he gained in War Surgery made a great contribution to the following period. In 2000, he started to work as a specialist in Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of General Surgery. With the international scholarship he won in 2004, he continued his education at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York, USA), Department of General Surgery, in esophagus, stomach, colorectal and pancreatic surgery units. Oktar Asoğlu became Associate Professor in 2005 and Professor in 2010. Since 2005, he has been dealing specifically with the surgical treatment of only digestive system cancers (colorectal and gastric cancer intensified), especially with the laparoscopic and robotic method, and he still continues to work in this field. His study, which showed that the nerves responsible for urination and sexual functions seen after surgery in patients with rectal cancer can be better preserved with the laparoscopic method (Surg Endosc 2009), has been published in numerous international meta-analyses and publications (For example, Surg Clinic North Am 2011-2013), as well as the European Association of Endoscopic Surgeons. (EAES) clinical practice guide (Surg Endosc and Interventional Tech 2011) cited as a reference.

Prof. Dr. Oktar Asoğlu served as a Member of the Board of Directors and General Secretary of the Turkish Colon and Rectal Diseases Surgery Association for three terms. To date, Asoğlu has given 55 international publications, more than 100 international speeches, more than 200 national speeches and received more than 500 citations in total. He has received the “Surgeon of Excellence” from the colorectal program for the first time in the world, from the international independent auditor Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). The “Surgeon of Excellence” certification was given as the fourth in the world in the field of robotics.

He started and established Liv Hospital Medical Director in 2012, left this position in 2016, and fulfilled his duty as the founding dean of İstinye University in the 2016-2017 academic year. He still continues his professional studies in his practice and part-time at Acıbadem Maslak Hospital.

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What is Esophageal Cancer?

Esophageal cancer is a serious and often aggressive form of cancer that affects the esophagus, the long tube that runs from the throat to the stomach. This type of cancer typically starts in the cells that line the inside of the esophagus and can occur anywhere along its length. There are two main types of esophageal cancer: squamous cell carcinoma, which arises from the flat, thin cells lining the esophagus, and adenocarcinoma, which originates in cells that secrete mucus and other substances. The incidence of adenocarcinoma has been increasing in recent years, particularly in Western countries, and is closely linked to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Barrett's esophagus, a condition where the normal esophageal lining changes due to chronic acid reflux.

Risk factors for esophageal cancer include smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, a history of GERD, obesity, and a diet low in fruits and vegetables. Symptoms often do not appear until the cancer is advanced, making early diagnosis challenging. Common symptoms include difficulty swallowing, weight loss, chest pain, and persistent cough. Diagnosis is typically made through a combination of endoscopy, where a tube with a camera is inserted down the throat to examine the esophagus, and biopsies, where small tissue samples are taken for analysis. Treatment options vary depending on the stage of the cancer and can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these. Unfortunately, the prognosis for esophageal cancer is often poor, particularly if diagnosed at a later stage. Early detection and lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and reducing alcohol intake, are key to improving outcomes for those at risk.

What is Oncology?

Oncology is a branch of science that examines the formation, causes, diagnosis, treatment and relationship of tumors in the body with heredity. It examines non-cancerous cells as well as cancerous cells. This broadens the fields of interest in oncology. Medical oncology, which examines chemotherapy applications which means treatment of cancer with medication, also examines cancer prevention, cancer screening and early diagnosis applications. Radiation oncology is a medical science that studies the effects of treatment procedures using radiotherapy on cancer cells. Cancer surgeries are often performed by oncological surgeons with advanced expertise in the surgery of the respective cancer.