| Service | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 🇹🇷 Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distal pancreatectomy | from USD 1,063 | from USD 16,000 | from USD 19,000 |
Prices in the “Ukraine” column come from MediUkraine’s partner clinics. The Czech Republic and Turkey columns show the lower bounds of prices published by clinics there (for Turkey, also the Turkish Dental Association’s recommended 2026 tariff), collected in August 2026 and converted to US dollars at the rate on the day of collection. A dash means we could not find a comparable published price. In any country, the final cost is set by the clinic after an examination.
Pancreatic cancer surgery is planned when the tumour can be separated from the major blood vessels and removed with clear margins, and there are no distant metastases: it is operability, not the diagnosis itself, that determines the approach. The extent of the operation depends on the location, size and spread of the tumour: from a distal pancreatectomy with removal of the spleen to a pancreatoduodenectomy, after which the surgeon reconnects the bile duct, the stomach and the bowel. This is the work of a multidisciplinary team, because major blood vessels and neighbouring organs lie right next to the pancreas.
Ukrainian surgical centres operate both through traditional open access and minimally invasively: laparoscopically and, at some centres, with robot-assisted systems. Minimally invasive techniques shorten rehabilitation and reduce blood loss and the risk of complications. The operation is preceded by a comprehensive work-up: multislice CT, endoscopic ultrasound and tumour marker tests.
Results are better when surgery is combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which shrinks the tumour before the operation. After discharge you have follow-up examinations and adjuvant treatment under the supervision of an oncologist.
MediUkraine arranges treatment with an experienced surgical team at the partner clinic in Uzhhorod and organises every stage without unnecessary delays.
Travel. Ukrainian airspace is closed, so there are no commercial flights. Uzhhorod lies right on the border with Slovakia and close to Hungary, so patients usually arrive overland from one of these two countries, by car, bus or train.
Visas. Citizens of the EU, the United Kingdom and the United States do not need a visa for short stays in Ukraine. Rules depend on your citizenship, so check your own before booking.
Safety, plainly. Ukraine is at war. Air raid alerts occur across the country, including in Uzhhorod, and an appointment can be interrupted by one. Several governments advise against travel to Ukraine, and while that advice stands, ordinary travel and medical insurance is often void — confirm your cover with your insurer before you commit to anything.
Language. MediUkraine handles correspondence, scheduling, the written treatment plan and the quote in English. The clinic's team communicates with international patients in English.
Payment. You pay the clinic directly. Our coordination service is free of charge for you.
More on travel, safety and insurance: Safety and travel.
Pancreatoduodenectomy remains the gold standard for cancer of the head of the pancreas. The surgeon removes the tumour together with part of the duodenum, the bile duct and the nearby lymph nodes. This is a complex operation that requires a highly qualified team. At Ukrainian cancer centres it is performed both through traditional open access and minimally invasively: laparoscopic techniques shorten recovery.
Distal pancreatectomy is needed when the tumour is in the body or tail of the organ. The affected part is removed together with the spleen and the nearby lymph nodes. The operation is less traumatic than a pancreatoduodenectomy, but patients are selected carefully, taking into account the stage of the disease and their general health.
Palliative surgery is used for inoperable tumours to improve quality of life: bypass surgery relieves obstructive jaundice and duodenal obstruction. The MediUkraine platform agrees the patient management protocol with the partner clinic in Uzhhorod.
Recovery after pancreatic cancer surgery takes months and has clear stages. For the first two weeks you stay in hospital under constant medical supervision: doctors monitor wound healing, prevent infectious complications and adjust pain relief. The diet is expanded gradually, from liquids to normal food. Physical activity starts with simple breathing exercises and walking along the corridor.
From week 3 to week 8 after the operation, rehabilitation continues on an outpatient basis: physiotherapy and therapeutic exercise with a gradual increase in load. Psychological support and adapting to the changes in the body after partial or total removal of the pancreas are just as important. Regular visits to an endocrinologist are needed to monitor blood glucose and, if necessary, prescribe replacement therapy.
The MediUkraine team advises you on where to complete each stage of rehabilitation and keeps the surgeon, oncologist, endocrinologist and other specialists in touch with each other. This support is designed to last eight months or more after the operation.
Pancreatic cancer surgery remains the main treatment for this diagnosis, and the extent of the operation is determined by the location of the tumour, its size and stage. Most often a pancreatoduodenectomy is performed: the head of the pancreas, the duodenum, part of the stomach and the bile ducts are removed, and the digestive tract is then reconstructed. If the tumour is in the body or tail of the pancreas, a distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy is performed.
The pre-operative work-up includes CT, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and tumour marker tests, which establish the stage of the disease and whether the tumour is operable. If the cancer has spread to the liver or the peritoneum, surgery is usually not performed.
MediUkraine arranges treatment at the partner clinic in Uzhhorod and guides you through every stage of pancreatic cancer treatment in Ukraine.
Pancreatic cancer surgery in Ukraine costs 30–50% of European prices: this is the range for a pancreatoduodenectomy and a distal pancreatectomy at Ukrainian cancer centres. Surgical teams have experience of complex resections. Materials and medicines for perioperative care are also cheaper, and this does not affect the quality of medical care.
The difference is noticeable in timing as well. At Ukrainian cancer centres treatment usually starts within 2–3 weeks of the first consultation, and the date of the operation is agreed with you in advance. MediUkraine sends your medical records for assessment, cuts administrative delays and agrees the details with the partner clinic in Uzhhorod.
Adjuvant chemotherapy and follow-up are already built into the hospital programme, so you do not have to look for them separately.
The safety of pancreatic surgery rests on following international protocols and standards. Every operation is preceded by full pre-operative diagnostics (CT, MRI and endoscopic ultrasound), which determine the stage of the disease and the extent of the resection. The staff specialise in cancer surgery.
MediUkraine's partner clinic in Uzhhorod is licensed by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, and its operating theatres have equipment for intraoperative monitoring. Its staff include experienced surgical oncologists who use minimally invasive techniques whenever possible.
After the operation you are not left without supervision: doctors watch for complications, check for pancreatic insufficiency and help you start adjuvant chemotherapy. MediUkraine manages every stage of treatment and keeps you in touch with the medical team during rehabilitation.
📍 Uzhhorod, Ukraine
A multidisciplinary hospital in Uzhhorod, part of a network of medical facilities in western Ukraine: an outpatient clinic, a surgical centre covering 15 specialties and a 30-bed inpatient unit. Its 52 doctors include professors and PhDs; many operations are done as day surgery, with discharge after 1–2 days.
It is an operation in which the tumour is removed together with the affected tissues, and it remains the main treatment for this diagnosis. The operation may remove part of the pancreas (partial resection) or the whole gland (total pancreatectomy). The aim is to remove the tumour, reduce the risk of metastatic spread and preserve the functions of the digestive organs.
The price depends on the complexity of the operation, the technique chosen (open, laparoscopic, robotic), the extent of pre-operative diagnostics and the length of the hospital stay. On average, surgery in Ukraine costs 40–60% less than in European countries, while clinics work to international quality standards.
See an oncologist or a gastroenterologist if you have pain in the upper abdomen, yellowing of the skin, sudden weight loss, nausea, digestive problems or pale stools. Seeing a doctor early gives a chance to find the tumour at an early stage, when treatment is more effective.
Before the operation you have a comprehensive work-up: blood tests, a CT or MRI scan of the abdomen and a consultation with the anaesthetist. For 1–2 days before the operation a light diet without foods that cause bloating is recommended. On the day of the operation you must have an empty stomach. The doctor explains all the stages and the recovery time in detail.
If cancer is found during pregnancy, the question of surgery is decided by a multidisciplinary team: an oncologist, a surgeon and an obstetrician-gynaecologist. The decision depends on the stage of the disease, the stage of pregnancy and the risks to the mother and the baby.
Surgery is performed for localised malignant tumours without distant metastases, limited involvement of the ducts or the head of the pancreas, benign tumours at risk of becoming malignant, and cases where the tumour causes chronic pain and impairs the function of the organ.
The prognosis depends on several key factors: the stage of the disease at diagnosis, spread of the tumour to neighbouring organs and regional lymph nodes, and your general health. In the early stages (I–II), when the tumour is confined to the pancreas, surgical removal is what opens the way to recovery, especially in combination with chemotherapy. Studies show that five-year survival after successful surgery at an early stage is 20–30%, and some patients achieve complete remission.
However, in most cases pancreatic cancer is found at a late stage, when surgery is palliative: it relieves symptoms and improves quality of life. Even when a full recovery is not possible, treatment can extend survival. MediUkraine arranges a consultation with specialists and the choice of a treatment plan suited to your individual case.
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