The Turkish Oncology Group (TOG) was established in 1989. The Group works to encourage education about cancer and has several different sections which focus on different cancers. In the late 1990s the Group initiated a section on palliative care training and development. In October 2004 the Group dedicated a conference to the continuing development of palliative care in Turkey. The conference was co-sponsored and supported by MASCC (Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer)³⁰ and co-chaired by Dr Eoin Tiernan with Dr Declan Welsh, and TOG president, Dr Dincer Firat. As representative of MASCC, Dr Eoin Tiernan explains:

‘This key conference coincided with the un-veiling of architectural plans for Turkey’s first hospice unit, to be opened in Ankara. Though home care, hospice and palliative care are not yet well developed in Turkey, the high attendance and obvious support from prominent members of the Oncology community in Turkey for the meeting gave ample evidence of the clear determination of TOG to advance both palliative and supportive care issues. The very-well organised programme covered a wide range of topics in supportive care, including both physical and psychological symptom management, with a distinguished faculty of speakers. Dr Matti Aapro, President of MASCC, also contributed to the programme presenting updates on current approaches to anaemia and emesis. One of the main purposes of the meeting was to explore the challenges in organising and developing home care and hospice programmes in Turkey. In keeping with this, international perspectives on home care and hospice development were presented by Dr Declan Walsh (US), Dr Eoin Tiernan (Ireland), and Julia Anne Walsh (US). Perspectives on organization of home care and hospice in Turkey were presented by a number of professionals working in innovative programmes in Turkey, and the sessions were followed by lively debate and discussion, with a representative from the Ministry of Health contributing. The meeting was also supported by Ms. Guldal Aksit, a Turkish government minister, who made a formal address pledging government support for this very important initiative.’³¹