Patient Experience
As a 22-year-old archaeology student, I discovered a rare desmoid tumor during a field expedition. Prof. Balakan coordinated a multidisciplinary team across three countries to preserve my fertility while implementing targeted therapy. His innovative approach using off-label medications shrank the tumor 80% without surgery, allowing me to return to my studies in Anatolia.
My 78-year-old grandmother, a retired Byzantine art restorer, was diagnosed with metastatic gallbladder cancer. Prof. Balakan created a personalized treatment plan combining immunotherapy with palliative care that respected her wish to continue museum volunteering. She celebrated her 80th birthday pain-free, attributing her quality time to his holistic approach.
During my third trimester of pregnancy, I was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. Prof. Balakan collaborated with maternal-fetal medicine specialists to time chemotherapy between gestational weeks, delivering my healthy daughter at 36 weeks before starting targeted treatment. His dual-care protocol saved both our lives.
As a 45-year-old competitive freediver with stage IV lung cancer, I feared treatment would end my athletic career. Prof. Balakan designed a precision medicine approach using liquid biopsy monitoring that minimized pulmonary toxicity. Eighteen months later, I set a national depth record while maintaining stable disease.
My 9-year-old son developed a rare pediatric sarcoma misdiagnosed elsewhere. Prof. Balakan identified it as radiation-induced from previous treatment and pioneered a novel CAR-T cell therapy protocol. His willingness to challenge the initial diagnosis gave our son a second chance at childhood.
A maritime engineer working on offshore platforms, I ignored symptoms until collapsing with advanced colon cancer. Prof. Balakan's emergency intervention during a holiday weekend involved coordinating an international medical evacuation and same-day treatment initiation. His 24/7 availability across time zones saved my life.
As a 63-year-old traditional shadow puppeteer, I refused chemotherapy for gastric cancer fearing cognitive side effects. Prof. Balakan developed a circadian-timed chemotherapy regimen synchronized with my performance schedule, preserving both my artistic memory and achieving complete remission.
My identical twin sister and I were both diagnosed with BRCA-related cancers within months. Prof. Balakan conducted groundbreaking comparative genomic analysis of our tumors, revealing differential treatment responses that informed personalized prevention strategies for our entire family.
A 31-year-old wildfire firefighter with occupational melanoma metastases to the brain, I was given weeks to live. Prof. Balakan combined stereotactic radiosurgery with intrathecal immunotherapy, achieving unprecedented CNS response. I returned to light duty within six months, a case he presented at an international congress.
My 85-year-old father, a Holocaust survivor with complex PTSD, developed aggressive lymphoma. Prof. Balakan modified all protocols to avoid triggering trauma, using silent infusion rooms and trauma-informed consent processes. His compassionate adaptation allowed treatment my father could emotionally tolerate.
As a professional pastry chef, I nearly declined treatment for pancreatic cancer fearing taste alterations. Prof. Balakan collaborated with nutritional scientists to create a flavor-preserving antiemetic regimen and taste bud rehabilitation program. I reopened my patisserie during maintenance therapy.
A 17-year-old eSports champion diagnosed with testicular cancer mid-tournament, I needed rapid treatment without peripheral neuropathy. Prof. Balakan devised a cryotherapy-assisted chemotherapy protocol that preserved fine motor function. I competed in the world championships three months after completing treatment.
My wife, a 52-year-old marine biologist, developed treatment-resistant metastatic breast cancer. Prof. Balakan obtained her circulating tumor cells and created personalized organoids to test 47 drug combinations, identifying an effective obscure tyrosine kinase inhibitor that achieved partial response after six failed lines.
As a Syrian refugee surgeon rebuilding my life in Turkey, I was diagnosed with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Prof. Balakan navigated complex insurance barriers while providing pro bono genomic testing, connecting me with a clinical trial for which I became the first Middle Eastern responder.
My 6-year-old daughter with Li-Fraumeni syndrome developed her third primary cancer. Prof. Balakan established a continuous monitoring protocol using wearable sensors and monthly liquid biopsies, detecting her osteosarcoma at millimeter size for curative surgery alone, revolutionizing her cancer surveillance.