First of all, you need to make an appointment during our consultation hours, which usually take place in the morning. You can find the telephone number for making an appointment here.
We always offer a special consultation hour for our tumour patients on Mondays, but it is not always possible to see them on Mondays. Our aim is to offer a suitable appointment for your specific case as soon as possible.
If a malignant disease is suspected, we first take care of organising the so-called staging. The first step is to perform a panendoscopy of the upper respiratory and alimentary tract. This serves to determine the extent of the tumour, to take samples for the final confirmation of the tumour and to exclude further tumour growth (secondary tumour). Furthermore, if this has not already been done in advance, tomographic imaging (CT or MRI) of the neck, an X-ray or CT of the lungs and an ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs will be carried out.
The next step is to present your case at our tumour conference. This always takes place on Mondays from 14:15. We encourage you to attend in person and bring your next of kin with you so that further treatment can be decided by mutual agreement.
The primary treatment options are usually surgery followed by radiotherapy (chemotherapy) or radiotherapy (chemotherapy) alone. In some cases, treatment with medication alone is also advisable. Alternative, newer therapeutic approaches are offered, for example, as part of clinical trials. Our tumour experts will check whether participation in a trial is possible and sensible for the individual patient. Which therapy our experts recommend depends on the stage of your disease, your secondary illnesses and your individual wishes. The operation will be performed at our centre. For radiotherapy (chemotherapy), we co-operate with the Radiotherapy Centre at Ulm University Hospital
After treatment, there is the option of rehabilitation. The aim of the therapy depends on the location of the tumour and the associated possible functional impairment. Many tumour patients are able to resume their original professional activities in full after completing treatment.
Once you have completed the treatment and the tumour has been removed, the next step is aftercare. Regular check-ups are important in order to recognise and treat any recurrence of the disease at an early stage. The recommendation is to have a follow-up examination every three months for the first two and a half years after the initial diagnosis and every six months for the following two and a half years. We are always there for you on Monday and Tuesday mornings. At these appointments, you also have the opportunity to discuss any functional limitations caused by the tumour and its treatment and to find a therapy for them.