Prof. M.D. Özge Gümüşay

As a 24-year-old competitive freediver, discovering a rare mediastinal germ cell tumor felt like my world collapsed. Dr. Gümüşay didn't just see me as a cancer patient—she collaborated with sports medicine specialists to design a treatment plan that preserved my lung capacity. Her innovative approach using targeted therapy allowed me to return to diving within 9 months, something three other oncologists said was impossible.

My 82-year-old mother with advanced pancreatic cancer was turned away by multiple hospitals due to her age and complexity. Dr. Gümüşay created a gentle, personalized protocol combining low-dose chemotherapy with palliative radiotherapy that gave us 14 meaningful months together. She visited our home twice to adjust care, treating my mother with dignity we'd almost forgotten was possible in medicine.

During my third trimester of pregnancy, a routine scan revealed stage II breast cancer. The terror was paralyzing. Dr. Gümüşay assembled a team including maternal-fetal medicine specialists and pioneered a safe chemotherapy schedule I could receive while pregnant. My healthy daughter was born at 38 weeks, and I completed treatment postpartum. Two years later, we're both thriving.

As a Turkish expat returning from Nigeria with misdiagnosed Burkitt's lymphoma, I arrived at Acibadem in critical condition. Dr. Gümüşay recognized the tropical disease immediately, working through the night to secure emergency medications from abroad. Her global network and rapid response saved my life when local protocols had failed me completely.