Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Israel, Tel Aviv
Ofer Merimsky
41 years of experience
accreditations :
Clinic is certified :
Sarcoma treatment cost in Israel typically involves complex diagnosis of sarcoma running from $2,400 to $5,200 and PET-CT scans. Total expenses depend on the tumor stage, whether it is bone or soft tissue, and the surgical complexity. Patients can save approximately 30-80% compared to the United States. High-quality care is primarily concentrated in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa.
Typical Sarcoma Treatment Costs in Israel
Bookimed Expert Insight: Patients with complex bone tumors benefit from 3D-navigated surgery at centers like Sourasky Medical Center. Pediatric cases are best handled at specialized facilities like Schneider Children's Medical Center. For those seeking private, highly personalized surgical care, Assuta Medical Center performs over 90,000 operations annually. Hadassah Medical Center is ideal for patients requiring multidisciplinary teams and Forbes-listed oncology experts.
| Israel | Turkey | Austria | |
| Proton-beam therapy | from $48,000 | from $70,000 | from $80,000 |
| High intensity focused ultrasound ablation (HIFU) | from $15,200 | from $4,000 | from $12,000 |
| Chemotherapy for breast cancer | from $22,500 | from $1,200 | from $15,000 |
| Sarcoma surgery | - | from $10,000 | from $35,000 |
| Radiation therapy for colorectal cancer | - | from $7,000 | from $12,000 |
Professor Merimsky leads the Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Department at Sourasky Medical Center, specializing in sarcoma treatment with over 41 years of experience of experience.
Principal investigator of clinical trials in cancer therapies – Dr. Sarid brings cutting-edge treatments to Sourasky Medical Center.
Dr. Arnon Nagler is an internationally recognized hematologist and bone marrow transplant expert. He is a Professor of Medicine at Tel Aviv University. He is Director Emeritus of Hematology & Bone Marrow Transplantation and the Cord Blood Bank at Sheba Medical Center. He earned his M.D. from the Hebrew University–Hadassah and an M.Sc. in hematopoiesis from Tel Aviv University. He completed postdoctoral training at Stanford. He is board certified in internal medicine and hematology.
He has more than 35 years of experience. He pioneered reduced‑intensity allogeneic transplant protocols for malignant and non‑malignant diseases. He founded Israel’s first public cord blood bank. He performed the country’s first cord blood transplants.
He has held international leadership roles. He served as Chair and Co‑Chair of the ALWP of the EBMT. He was a vice‑chair and long‑term member of EBMT committees. He served on the board of NetCord/EuroCord and as treasurer. He is a frequent invited speaker. He has published widely in journals such as Blood and Leukemia. He has led major clinical trials as a principal investigator and held editorial roles. He has received multiple awards for innovation and clinical excellence.
Prof. Zvi Cohen is Director of the Neurosurgery Department and the Neuro-Oncology Unit at Sheba Medical Center. He is a neurosurgeon and neuro-oncology expert. He was included in Forbes Israel’s Best Doctors 2025. He leads clinical research on drug therapies for malignant brain tumors. He also founded Sheba’s brain tumor tissue bank.
He is board-certified in neurosurgery. He trained at Tel Aviv University. He completed fellowships in neuroradiology at Beth Israel and in neurosurgical oncology at MD Anderson. His practice covers complex brain, pituitary, spine, and spinal cord tumors. He has expertise in stereotactic biopsies, image-guided resections, intraoperative MRI, navigation systems, and radiosurgery. He is a member of the Society for Neuro-Oncology and the Israeli Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Sarcoma surgery in Israel prioritize limb-salvage while achieving clear cancer margins. Expect permanent scars that fade from red to pale over 18 months. Modern reconstructive techniques like skin grafts and 3D computer-assisted planning help improve functional and cosmetic outcomes for patients.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data from Sourasky Medical Center shows a focus on multidisciplinary teams for pediatric cases. Dr. Dror Levin coordinates oncology and orthopedic experts specifically to minimize physical impact. This collaborative approach often results in better functional mobility compared to single-surgeon resections in less specialized centers.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that scars are often larger than expected, sometimes exceeding 10 inches. Many wish they had discussed limb-sparing reconstructive options and potential joint stiffness with their surgeon before the procedure.
Sourasky, Sheba, and Hadassah are the top-rated Israeli hospitals for sarcoma. These centers offer specialized bone and soft-tissue tumor units. They utilize advanced 3D navigation and limb-sparing surgeries. Most facilities hold JCI accreditation. They provide access to global clinical trials and molecular diagnostics.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Patient data shows that choosing a facility with an integrated research institute, like Rambam or Sheba, provides access to specific sarcoma protocols not found elsewhere. For example, Sheba serves 1.9 million patients annually. This high volume allows their teams to manage over 70 distinct sarcoma subtypes. This level of specialization is critical for rare cases where standard treatments may not be effective. Smaller clinics often focus on common cancers instead.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize that a second-opinion pathology review in Israel is essential. Many note that Israeli specialists often identify subtypes that were previously misdiagnosed in their home countries.
Sourasky Medical Center and Sheba Medical Center treat the highest volume of sarcoma cases in Israel. Sourasky houses the National Center for Sarcomas of Bone and Soft Tissues. Sheba Medical Center serves over 2 million patients annually. These institutions provide specialized adult and pediatric oncology care.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Patient volume data reveals that Sourasky Medical Center is the primary hub for specialized expertise. Dr. Ofer Merimsky leads the National Center for Sarcomas there. While Sheba handles a higher overall patient load of 2 million people, Sourasky maintains a 90% oncology success rate. Patients seeking specific 3D-assisted orthopedic surgery should consider Dr. Sternheim Amir at Sourasky. He uses advanced computer-assisted methods for complex bone reconstructions.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that seeking a second opinion in Israel often leads to revised diagnoses. They emphasize that coordinators stay with you throughout every test and consultation.
Israel provides high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and proton therapy as advanced non-invasive options. Leading centers specialize in complex oncology cases. Notable facilities including Sheba and Sourasky achieve high success rates. Surgeons utilize 3D technology for precise bone reconstructions. Advanced genomic sequencing matches patients with clinical trials.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli oncology centers like Sourasky Medical Center report a 90% average success rate for oncology treatments. This is partly due to specialists like Dr. Sternheim Amir. He uses advanced 3D technology and computer-assisted methods for bone sarcomas. This level of precision often allows for limb-saving surgeries in cases where other regions might recommend amputation. Patients should seek clinics with dedicated national centers for bone and soft tissue tumors.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize the importance of re-evaluating initial diagnoses in Israel. Many note that advanced testing often reveals more effective treatment paths than those found in their home countries.
Initial diagnostic processes for sarcoma in Israel typically take 1 to 3 weeks at specialized oncology centers. This timeframe encompasses a multidisciplinary review of scans and pathology. Facilities like Sourasky Medical Center provide rapid access to PET/CT and specialized biopsies to confirm tumor types quickly.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data from leading Israeli centers like Sheba and Sourasky shows that prior biopsy `revisions` are a major time-saver. Bringing your original paraffin blocks and slides allows professors like Dr. Ofer Merimsky to confirm a diagnosis in days. This prevents redundant surgical biopsies and can accelerate your treatment start by 2 weeks.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that pushing for an MRI early is vital to avoid misdiagnosis. While wait times vary, those who arrived with organized symptom logs and previous scans experienced much faster coordination.
Support services for medical tourists in Israel include clinical coordination, visa assistance, and specialized logistics. Major centers like Sourasky and Hadassah provide multilingual coordinators. These professionals manage medical record translation, appoint scheduling, and VIP airport transfers. Specialized support also extends to housing assistance and remote telemedicine follow-up.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli medical centers demonstrate a high level of integration between clinical care and logistics. For instance, Sheba Medical Center functions as a city of health. It manages everything from Ben Gurion airport pickup to daily hospital transportation. This internal coordination is vital for sarcoma patients undergoing intensive treatments like CAR-T or proton therapy. Choosing clinics with 2,000+ staff members often ensures more robust administrative support systems.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that having a dedicated coordinator helps navigate complex schedules and paperwork. Many emphasize that airport transfers and help with local SIM cards significantly reduce stress during long treatment stays.
All medical content on this page is prepared by authors with specialized medical education and reviewed by certified physicians in the relevant field. Medical review by Fahad Mawlood, Medical Editor & Data Scientist.
Last updated: May, 2026.
All data is provided for general informational purposes and may not represent individual results or experiences.