Cancer Treatment

At Tays, we study and treat malignant cancer diseases that require radiotherapy or advanced medical treatment. We are also responsible for providing palliative care for symptoms and care which improve the life quality for terminally ill patients.

Effective cancer treatment usually requires a combination of several treatments. The most commonly used treatments at Tays are radiotherapy and medical cancer treatment. We are also responsible for providing palliative care for symptoms and quality of life improving care for terminally ill patients.

The largest patient groups in our care are the following:

Breast cancer patients
Prostate cancer patients
Patients with digestive tract cancers
Lymphatic tissue cancer patients
Lung cancer patients

Tests and treatments at Tays

Tests and treatments at Tays require a physician's referral. When a patient comes here for treatment, the cancer diagnosis has usually already been made. We study and plan the treatment for each patient individually according to the patient's needs. The treatment is planned together with the patient and his or her family member.

Cancer treatment usually involves imaging and laboratory tests, and sometimes a tissue or cell sample, e.g. bone biopsies, may be necessary. Imaging scans are also taken in order to plan radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy is most commonly given externally with a radiation device using modern techniques, and it is based on the patient's individual radiotherapy plan. We are pioneers in our country in several radiotherapy techniques. Radiotherapy may also be in the form of isotope treatment, i.e. treatment with a radiological medication, and it may also be administered within body cavities or tissues.

Cancer medications include cytotoxic agents, antibody and other biological treatments, as well as hormonal medications. These can be given in different combinations depending on the type of cancer. High-dose cancer medication treatments are supported with a stem cell transplant. Drugs alleviating the adverse effects of a cancer treatment are often necessary. Such medications include, for example, antiemetic drugs (preventing nausea) or blood cell growth factors.

Cancer treatments are typically repeated often. The patient may receive radiotherapy a few times or for several weeks on weekdays. A single treatment only lasts for a couple of minutes. Cancer drug treatment is most often administered as courses every 1–3 weeks. Orally administered cancer drug treatment has become more common. The majority of treatments are given at the outpatient clinic. Especially demanding treatments are given in the wards or if the patient's condition requires it. Some patients can stay overnight in the Patient Hotel located in the area of Tays Central Hospital.

Special expertise at Tays

We are the second largest centre in Finland that provides cancer treatment. We plan the cancer treatment according to individual needs in collaboration with each patient. The treatment is planned by experts specialising in the cancer in question.

We use the latest cancer treatment techniques and actively develop the treatment based on research. Our staff consists of special experts and is constantly trained.

Tays Cancer Center is a OECI certified Cancer Centre. (Organisation European Cancer Institute).