Turkey 
Supportive care in cancer around the globe

International Interim Meeting on Home Care & Hospice in Oncology
October 7-9, 2004.
Istanbul, Turkey.

From 7-9th October, the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG) hosted an international meeting on Home Care and Hospice in Oncology at the Grand Cevahir Hotel and Congress Center, Istanbul. The meeting was co-sponsored and supported by MASCC, with Dr Declan Walsh and Dr Eoin Tiernan invited to represent MASCC as co-chairs of the meeting with Dr Dincer Firat, President of TOG.

This key conference coincided with the un-veiling of architectural plans for Turkey’s first hospice unit, to be opened in Ankara. Though home care, hospice and palliative care are not yet well developed in Turkey, the high attendance and obvious support from prominent members of the oncology community in Turkey for the meeting gave ample evidence of the clear determination of TOG to advance both palliative and supportive care issues.

The very-well organised programme covered a wide range of topics in supportive care, including both physical and psychological symptom management, with a distinguished faculty of speakers. Dr Matti Aapro, President of MASCC, also contributed to the programme presenting updates on current approaches to anaemia and emesis. 

One of the main purposes of the meeting was to explore the challenges in organising and developing home care and hospice programmes in Turkey. In keeping with this, international perspectives on home care and hospice development were presented by Dr Declan Walsh (US), Dr Eoin Tiernan (Ireland), and Julia Anne Walsh (US). Perspectives on organization of home care and hospice in Turkey were presented by a number of professionals working in innovative programmes in Turkey, and the sessions were followed by lively debate and discussion, with a representative from the Ministry of Health contributing. The meeting was also supported by Ms. Guldal Aksit, a Turkish government minister, who made a formal address pledging government support for this very important initiative.

On a less formal note, as an international guest to Istanbul and the conference, the conference organisers, and my hosts, were most hospitable, and an evening of traditional Turkish music and entertainment provided a wonderful opportunity to make new friends in a very friendly country. I look forward to supporting any representations from our colleagues in Turkey to host future meetings!

Eoin Tiernan MD.