Cancer treatment in Germany: Hospital Brothers of Mercy Regensburg

The Hospital Brothers of Mercy Regensburg (Barmherzige Brüder) offers modern and affordable cancer treatment in Germany for medical tourists.

The Hospitaller Order of St. John of God has been helping the sick and needy for over 500 years.

Today, the Order has a network of over 300 institutions worldwide.

Their hospital in Regensburg, founded in 1929 by brother Eustachius Kügler, is considered one of the largest.

The Barmherzige Brüder Regensburg medical complex consists of the Prüfeninger Strasse Kliniken (for adult patients) and the St. Hedwig Kliniken (for children and teenagers).

Clinic for oncology and hematology Regensburg

German science over the past few decades has made great strides in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Fundamentally new targets and methods for the destruction of malignant tumors of the lung, stomach, pancreas, and colorectal cancer treatments were developed. Cancer care is becoming more successful, but also more difficult. In most cases, treatment requires the participation of doctors of different specialties.

Clinic for oncology and hematology Barmherzige Brüder Regensburg positions itself as an interdisciplinary network that brings together recognized experts providing comprehensive care.

According to oncologist Dr. Bernhard Heilmeier, the principle of the clinic is the close cooperation of specialists from different fields to bring maximum benefit to each patient. Cancer treatment is planned after a detailed diagnostic process, depending on the clinical situation and the patient's opinion. Like the rest of certified cancer centers in Germany, clinic in Regensburg focuses on personalized therapy. It is equipped in accordance with the latest achievements of European science, paying special attention to the safety and comfort of the patients.

The Hospital Brothers of Mercy Regensburg is certified in accordance with strict quality standarts DIN-EN-ISO 9001: 2008. This is one of the best medical institutions in Germany and the federal state of Bavaria according to the ratings of FOCUS 2018 and 2019.

Cancer treatment offered in Barmherzige Brüder Regensburg

Depending on the type of tumor, treatment may consist of one or more therapeutic options: surgical removal, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and supportive (palliative) treatment.

Minimally invasive procedures

Minimally invasive therapeutic procedures have made cancer treatment gentle and safe.

Instead of a scalpel, surgeons use endoscopic instruments that are inserted through blood vessels or tiny holes in the skin up to 2 centimeters long. These procedures can completely replace “open” interventions or become a valuable addition to surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.

The Hospital Brothers of Mercy Regensburg offers:

Endovascular bronchial artery embolization (Bronchialarterienembolisation) is used to stop pulmonary hemorrhage.

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia through a small plastic tube (catheter), similar to a cardiac catheterization. Special substation (embolic agent) is inserted into the bronchial artery, sealing the vessel.

Interventional bronchoscopy is designed to expand the airways blocked by the tumor. It is performed under general anesthesia and takes from 60 to 90 minutes. Bronchoscopically, doctor can remove a tumor or foreign tissue using a cryoprobe (cryotherapy), heating (argon laser), or electric current. For the prevention of further narrowing of the bronchi, a stent is inserted.

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a technique used for benign tumors, esophageal and gastric cancer in the early stages. This procedure ensures complete removal of tumor tissue and minimizes the risk of cancer recurrence.

Endoscopic submucosal resection (ESR) is used for polyps, precancerous tumors and early stage gastric cancer. In recent years, this procedure is considered a standard for treating such diseases, replacing “open” surgical interventions.

Endoscopic full-thickness resection is designed for more complete excision of epithelial neoplasms in the intestine, which cannot be removed with EMR or ESR.

Microwave cancer ablation (MWA) destroys both primary liver tumors (hepatocellular carcinoma) and liver metastases. The procedure is prescribed to completely cure cancer in the early stages and reduce inoperable tumors. MWA is performed under ultrasound guidance, sometimes as part of a major surgery – liver resection.

A valuable option for primary / secondary liver tumor is radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The procedure resembles MWA, but high-frequency electrical current is used to destroy the tumor.



Uterine fibroid embolization (Myomembolisation) stops the blood supply to fibroids. Over the course of several weeks and months, the tumor shrinks as a result of reduced blood flow, so patients may feel a noticeable improvement soon enough.

In case of prostatic artery embolization (PAE), the surgeon seals blood vessels of the prostate with microparticles. Sometimes embolization is an excellent alternative to such methods as drug treatment of cancer and prostatectomy.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a sealing of tumor blood vessels with microparticles and a chemotherapeutic agent. It is usually recommended for inoperable primary liver cancer and some types of liver metastases.

TACE provides excellent clinical results because it combines the devastating effects of chemotherapy and oxygen starvation of a tumor. The procedure is characterized by high safety and a small number of complications. TACE can be combined with radiofrequency ablation of a tumor or even used as a bridge before liver transplantation.

Since August 2014, the Regensburg Hospital has installed the da Vinci® Si surgical system. This is the most advanced equipment for robotic surgery in the world, which allows to perform resection of the prostate, kidney and intestinal surgery with highest accuracy.

Nuclear medicine and cancer radiotherapy

Many cancers and benign tumors respond well to radiation therapy (for example, radioiodine therapy to treat thyroid gland). Special institutes and departments are engaged in radioisotope therapy and radiation imaging in Germany (PET, CT).

In Regensburg there is an Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Neuroradiology and Radiotherapy, where the most modern equipment for radiation imaging and radioisotope therapy are concentrated. Local experts will develop a personalized treatment plan and discuss in detail with the patient the possible side effects, the duration of therapy, the need for follow-up examination and other aspects.



Barmherzige Brüder Regensburg offers:

• Radioiodine therapy for benign and malignant thyroid diseases (including metastatic cancer)
• Radiosynovectomy for inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the joints
• Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) for liver cancer
• MIBG-therapy of neuroblastoma and neuroectodermal tumors
• Radioisotope therapy for painful bone metastases
• Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) for neuroendocrine tumors
• Radioimmunotherapy for CD20-positive follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Selective internal radiation therapy (selektive interne Radiotherapie, SIRT) is widely accepted method of cancer treatment in Germany. SIRT showed excellent results in inoperable liver tumors. SIRT involves injecting of radioactive particles (SIR-Spheres Y-90) directly into a tumor. These particles irradiate the malignant tissue within a radius of 1 centimeter; the surrounding healthy tissue remains safe. Over time, SIR-Spheres are completely eliminated from the body.

German doctors often use SIRT in combination with systemic chemotherapy. The advantage of the method is minimal systemic side effects, since irradiation affects only tumor tissue in the liver.

Senior doctor Michael Schenk says that modern chemotherapy and radiotherapy are well tolerated. The Hospital Brothers of Mercy Regensburg always seeks to adapt the type and intensity of cancer treatment to the individual needs of the patient. This is the key to success.

© Analytical reviews and oncology news by K. Mokanov: clinical pharmacist and professional medical translator