Overview

Portugal offers a modern, western way of life, with excellent infrastructure and clean, well equipped clinics with highly trained staff. Portugal is also excellent value in terms of living expenses and treatment costs. Clinicians at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Lisbon, Portugal, have performed the world’s first cancer treatments using Varian’s new Edge™ radiosurgery system. In February, doctors at the center used the new system to deliver radiosurgery treatments for patients with lung, prostate, and brain cancer.

Internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy treats cancer by placing tiny radioactive sources or seeds into the body either directly into or next to the area requiring treatment. This enables clinicians to deliver a high dose of radiation with minimal impact on surrounding healthy tissues. Brachytherapy is generally an effective treatment option for many cancers of the prostate, cervix, endometrium, breast, skin, bronchus, esophagus, and head and neck, as well as soft tissue sarcomas and other cancer types.

Choose Portugal for your medical tourism and you can tailor your trip to perfection, whether you want to simply relax and soak up the sun, or enjoy a round or two on some of Europe’s finest golf courses. If you have more time and feel like it, you can make a true road trip out of your visit, taking in the idyllic villages or Portugal’s rural interior.

State Department Information

Quick Facts
Alerts and Warnings

Securing Your Money When You Travel

Carrying large amounts of cash is obviously unsafe in a foreign country. Also, be careful using your credit cards when you travel. Never give out your PIN, never let anyone else swipe your card and don't ever let anyone take your card out of your sight (example: at a restaurant). Make sure your cards are "Chip" enabled, require a PIN to use and carry in a wallet or case that shields the data from being scanned on the street.

Many clinics are no longer accepting personal checks, cash or travelers checks. Wire transfer and credit cards are your best bet however they can come with high bank fees per use internationally, variable exchange fees and lower daily spending limits when being used in a foreign country.

A Simple Solution to keep your money safe - Travani offers 3 secure travel products to carrying money for expenses and for paying your doctor. There are no credit checks, low fees, and you don't have to worry about having your money or identity stolen off of your card. In fact, leave those important cards at home and get a FREE RFID shield!* Find out more.