29.10.2026 23:59
Baiaman Ularbekov, a 12-year-old diagnosed with bone cancer (osteosarcoma) in Kyrgyzstan, was brought to Turkey for treatment as a result of his family's research. After 10 weeks of chemotherapy at Sakarya Training and Research Hospital, surgery removed the tumorous tissue and a special prosthesis was fitted, and the child was saved without his leg being amputated. The chemotherapy and physical therapy process, which will last about a year, is ongoing.
Twelve-year-old Baiaman Ularbekov, who was brought to Turkey for treatment after being diagnosed with bone cancer in Kyrgyzstan, was saved from losing his leg thanks to the treatment applied at Sakarya Training and Research Hospital (SEAH).
PAIN BELOW THE KNEE TURNED OUT TO BE CANCER
Ularbekov, living in Kyrgyzstan, was taken to the doctor by his family 5 months ago with complaints of pain and swelling below his right knee.
After examination and tests, a tumor was detected in the upper part of his tibia, and as a result of a biopsy, Ularbekov was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (malignant bone tumor).
Ularbekov, who was brought to Turkey for difficult treatment as a result of his family's research, began treatment in SEAH's orthopedics and traumatology and pediatric hematology and oncology units.
After about 10 weeks of chemotherapy, Ularbekov got rid of the tumorous tissue through surgery without his leg being amputated.
Ularbekov, whose chemotherapy and physical therapy process will continue, is planned to receive treatment for about a year.
Ularbekov, who is grateful to Turkish physicians, is waiting for the day he will walk again.
A CUSTOM PROSTHESIS WAS FITTED TO HIS LEG
SEAH Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fevzi Sağlam said that they have been conducting work on bone and soft tissue tumors in Sakarya for 6 years, and that there are few centers in public hospitals in Turkey related to this field.
Mentioning Baiaman Ularbekov's arrival at the hospital with a bone cancer diagnosis and his treatment process, Sağlam continued as follows:
"His family, in anxiety, researched for the treatment to be performed at a better center. They reached SEAH, one of the centers where this is done best in Turkey. After chemotherapy, we completely removed the tumorous tissue and placed a special prosthesis, and we successfully completed the surgery without amputating the leg. Our patient has slowly begun to put weight on his leg. After this, the patient will have a chemotherapy and physical therapy process. We are glad that everything went well. The fact that patients from different countries come to Sakarya Training and Research Hospital for this kind of cancer surgery both motivates and pleases us. We are truly happy that we have helped patients."
Sağlam explained that bone and soft tissue tumors are a challenging field requiring multidisciplinary treatment and that they offer this treatment free of charge, and said, "We have been able to establish this in Sakarya for 6-7 years. We have all kinds of facilities. Our physical infrastructure is suitable, and we are technologically quite sufficient. The management also supports us in this regard. SEAH is one of the rare public centers in Turkey where bone and soft tissue cancer surgeries are performed. These are high-cost surgeries. Patients diagnosed in this way can always apply to us. In particular, we see patients diagnosed with bone and soft tissue tumors by opening a polyclinic registration without waiting for an appointment."
COSTLY TREATMENT WAS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE
SEAH Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Fatih Orhan also noted that osteosarcoma, which is common in children, is among tumors with a high risk of spreading to the lungs, and advised families to take their children's pain seriously and definitely take them to a doctor.
Orhan explained that thanks to Baiaman Ularbekov's early application to the hospital, he was treated before the tumor spread, and said, "Baiaman completed 10 weeks of chemotherapy treatment. Now a process that will take about a year awaits him. Baiaman was born on October 29, so he is a child of the republic. He came from the Turkic republics to seek healing from us. Most of my patients say, 'May God not bring ruin upon the state.' Truly, the state provides a very intensive and costly treatment free of charge. Our brothers in the Turkic republics benefiting from this is one of the things that increases our professional satisfaction."
Baiaman Ularbekov, on the other hand, stating that his treatment process continues, said, "I love Turkey very much. My treatment is going well, but sometimes I have pain."
Ularbekov's father, Almaz Konurbaev, explained that after his son was diagnosed with cancer, they talked with family members and decided to have treatment in Turkey, and said, "Our treatment is going well. He had surgery. We hope that chemotherapy and the subsequent treatment processes will go well."