Assoc. Prof. MD. Gonca Dilek Hanedan Uslu

As a 78-year-old with recurrent laryngeal cancer previously treated elsewhere, I arrived at Dr. Gonca Hanedan Uslu's clinic feeling like a lost cause. My voice was nearly gone, and previous radiation had left me with terrible throat scarring. Dr. Uslu didn't just look at my scans, she listened to my life story, understanding how important communication was for me as a former teacher. She designed a remarkable hypofractionated IMRT plan that specifically spared what remained of my healthy vocal cords. The precision was astonishing; during treatment, they used a special mold to keep my head perfectly still. Six months later, not only is the cancer controlled, but my voice has actually improved enough that I can read bedtime stories to my great-grandchildren again. Her team at Liv Hospital Bahcesehir treated me with such dignity, never dismissing me because of my age.

Our 8-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a rare optic pathway glioma, every parent's nightmare. We'd seen several oncologists who presented bleak options with devastating potential side effects like blindness. Dr. Gonca Hanedan Uslu approached everything differently. She spent an entire afternoon with us, drawing pictures to explain proton therapy (which she arranged at a specialized center) and how it would spare our daughter's developing brain. What moved us most was how she connected with our child, promising 'to be very careful with the special pictures behind your eyes.' She coordinated with child life specialists who made each session feel like a space adventure. Now, two years later, the tumor has significantly regressed, our daughter's vision is perfect, and she's thriving in school. Dr. Uslu still remembers her favorite cartoon characters at follow-ups.

I came to Dr. Uslu not as a typical radiation patient, but as a 42-year-old with a complex spinal metastasis from renal cell carcinoma that three other centers deemed 'too risky' to treat. The tumor was wrapped around critical nerves, causing debilitating pain that morphine barely touched. Dr. Uslu proposed an innovative two-stage approach: first, precise stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) to debulk the mass, followed by a novel radiopharmaceutical infusion she personally coordinated with nuclear medicine. Her confidence wasn't arrogance, it was backed by her detailed 3D modeling of my anatomy. The treatment was grueling, but her team's 24/7 availability was extraordinary. Within weeks, the pain diminished by 80%. At my last PET scan, the metastasis had nearly resolved. She didn't just treat cancer; she gave me back my ability to walk with my children.

As a 55-year-old with early-stage breast cancer, I expected my radiation to be routine after lumpectomy. What I didn't expect was Dr. Uslu's revolutionary approach to preventing long-term complications. Instead of standard whole-breast radiation, she recommended accelerated partial breast irradiation using a balloon catheter, a technique she personally adapted for my specific tumor location. She explained how this would dramatically reduce treatment time from six weeks to just five days while minimizing radiation to my heart and lungs. During the procedure, she used real-time ultrasound guidance, narrating everything calmly. The most remarkable part? She incorporated a subtle cooling system to prevent skin burns, something she'd researched herself. My recovery was incredibly swift, with minimal fatigue and no skin damage. At follow-up, she even noticed and addressed early signs of lymphedema before I did. Her preventive mindset is truly exceptional.