Assoc. Prof. MD. Beyza Sirin Ozdemir

A 75-year-old retired citrus grove owner from Finike with metastatic prostate cancer to the lumbar spine had severe pain refractory to opioids. With no family locally, he was accompanied by his longtime foreman to appointments. Dr. Ozdemir administered a single-fraction stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to the dominant lesion. His pain reduced dramatically within 72 hours, allowing him to walk his groves again with a cane, finding solace in the routine until his peaceful passing from systemic disease six months later.

A 42-year-old Syrian refugee and mother of four, working as a hotel cleaner, was diagnosed with locally advanced cervical cancer. She spoke limited Turkish and had no documented prior health screenings. Dr. Ozdemir coordinated with a hospital social worker and an Arabic interpreter to explain concurrent chemoradiation. Treatment was grueling, but she completed it, supported by a women's cooperative from her community who helped with childcare. She achieved complete remission and now volunteers to guide other refugee women through the healthcare system.

A 19-year-old university student and aspiring e-sports athlete from Antalya presented with a rare pineal gland germinoma causing severe headaches and Parinaud's syndrome. Dr. Ozdemir utilized whole ventricular irradiation with a boost to the tumor bed, meticulously sparing hippocampal tissue to protect cognitive function critical for his studies. He returned to competitive gaming within a year, using his platform to raise awareness about young adult cancer.

A 60-year-old former ship captain from Alanya with hepatocellular carcinoma, deemed inoperable due to portal vein thrombosis. He was skeptical of 'land-based' medicine. Dr. Ozdemir proposed and performed selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with Yttrium-90 microspheres. The procedure shrank the tumor significantly, downstaging it to allow for a successful transplant evaluation. He now calls his post-transplant check-ups 'dry docking for maintenance.'

A 28-year-old female professional freediver from Kaş presented with an unusual nasopharyngeal carcinoma, likely linked to chronic sinus barotrauma from deep diving. Dr. Ozdemir designed a highly targeted intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plan that spared critical structures near the skull base, crucial for her balance and pressure equalization. The patient returned to recreational diving at 40 meters within 18 months, a recovery celebrated by her tight-knit diving community.