Assist. Prof. M.D. Kemal Ünal

I was rushed to Acibadem Atakent Hospital with severe abdominal pain that turned out to be a ruptured appendix with unusual complications. Dr. Kemal Ünal was called in immediately. What struck me was how he explained the gastrointestinal oncology perspective—checking for any hidden issues while addressing the emergency. His team performed a laparoscopic procedure that felt minimally invasive. During recovery, he personally reviewed my pathology slides twice, 'to be absolutely certain.' It wasn't just surgery; it was comprehensive care that considered long-term health. The emergency became a thorough health reset.

My 8-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a rare gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). The word 'oncology' filled us with dread. Dr. Ünal approached her case with incredible sensitivity—he spoke to her first, using dinosaur analogies to explain her treatment. At Acibadem Atakent, he coordinated a pediatric-specific protocol that avoided aggressive surgery. Instead, he pioneered a targeted medication plan monitored with regular endoscopies. Two years later, she's in remission, living normally. He treated the child, not just the disease, and his follow-up calls on weekends showed genuine care.

As a 72-year-old with a complex history of Barrett's esophagus, my routine surveillance endoscopy with Dr. Ünal revealed early-stage esophageal adenocarcinoma. His approach was methodical and unhurried. He spent an hour with my family, drawing diagrams of the gastrointestinal tract and explaining why a specialized robotic esophagectomy was preferable for my age. The surgery at Acibadem Atakent was flawless—I was walking the next day. What's remarkable is his 'precision follow-up': every 3 months, he reviews not just scans but my nutritional bloodwork and quality of life. He turned a terrifying diagnosis into a manageable chronic condition.

I traveled from abroad specifically for Dr. Ünal's second opinion after being told my pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor was inoperable. He reviewed my scans and said, 'This is complex, but we have pathways.' His strategy was unconventional: he first treated a secondary liver issue with embolization to strengthen me for the major Whipple procedure. The surgery lasted 9 hours; he updated my family personally every 90 minutes. Post-op, he designed a novel surveillance schedule combining MRI with specific tumor markers. His expertise isn't just surgical—it's strategic oncology chess. A year later, I'm traveling again, thanks to his meticulous, staged approach.