Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Tsing Hua University Nuclear Reactor
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Founded on July 1, 1958 (ROC Year 47), the hospital launched its outpatient and emergency operations in March 1959, followed by its official opening on November 1 of the same year. Covering a land area of 30.36 hectares with a total floor space of 545,203.83 square meters, our main facilities include the Chung-Cheng Building, Szu-Yuan Building, Evergreen Building, Outpatient Building, Chi-Te Building, Neural Regeneration Center, Disabled Reconstruction Center, and Power Center.
Initially established with 600 beds, our medical services were restricted exclusively to veterans in Taiwan. Over time, eligibility was gradually expanded to include veterans’ dependents, beneficiaries of public, labor, agricultural, and fishery insurance, as well as the general public. With the successive construction of the First, Second, and Third Outpatient Buildings, daily outpatient visits grew from over 200 in the early days to approximately 8,000 today. To accommodate the increasing volume of outpatient care, our capacity has continuously expanded, reaching 3,157 beds as of March 2024 (ROC Year 113).
Source: Taipei Veterans General Hospital Website
About the Restaurant
Located in the Food Plaza on the 1st floor of the Chung-Cheng Building, this dining area hosts a total of 19 restaurants, offering a wide variety of choices including Japanese, American, Chinese, and Taiwanese cuisine.
Recommended Nearby Accommodations
What is Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT)?
Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an evolving cancer treatment technology based on the principle of boron absorbing neutrons and splitting into lithium nuclei and alpha particles. The concept was first proposed in 1936 at the Franklin Institute in Pennsylvania, USA. Following further development and technical advances, Massachusetts General Hospital became the first to apply BNCT clinically to patients with glioblastoma in 1954. Since then, related research has expanded across Europe, the United States, and Japan. Today, in addition to glioblastoma, BNCT is widely used to treat recurrent head and neck cancers.
Kills cancer cells without damaging surrounding tissue
Regarding its treatment mechanism, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a form of targeted radiation therapy. The principle involves injecting a boron-containing drug into the cancer patient so that it is selectively taken up by cancer cells. The patient is then exposed to low-energy neutrons. Leveraging the property that boron readily undergoes a nuclear reaction with neutrons, it releases highly destructive yet short-ranged and dense alpha particles, thereby destroying cancer cells without damaging surrounding tissues. Therefore, for boron neutron capture therapy to be successful, boron-containing drugs and a neutron source are two indispensable requirements.
Boron-containing drugs with high specificity for malignant cells
First, regarding boron-containing drugs, they must possess high specificity for malignant cells, ideally achieving a tumor-to-normal-tissue concentration ratio of at least three or four to one. Currently, the primary drugs used are chemical precursors mimicking those required for tumor cell proliferation, such as BSH (borocaptate sodium) or BPA (boronophenylalanine).
Taiwan and Japan are also among the countries actively engaged in BNCT clinical research
Through close cooperation between Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan performed BNCT treatments on its first and second patients with recurrent head and neck cancer on August 11 and August 13, 2010 (Year 99 of the Republic Era). By May 2015 (Year 104), more than 20 patients evaluated as unsuitable for first-line therapies had received BNCT, with many achieving complete local tumor control. Clinical trials remain ongoing, and Taiwan, alongside Japan, is currently one of the most active countries in BNCT clinical research.
BNCT Clinical Research Still Focuses Primarily on Recurrent Head and Neck Cancers
Although BNCT is theoretically an ideal treatment, it still has limitations. First, due to the limited penetration of thermal neutrons, its therapeutic efficacy is better suited for less deep-seated tumors. Additionally, boron drug uptake varies among different patient tumors; if a tumor’s uptake of the drug is limited, the treatment’s effectiveness will also be affected. Therefore, ongoing clinical research by Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Tsing Hua University currently remains focused primarily on recurrent head and neck cancers. Before undergoing treatment, patients must undergo a careful and comprehensive evaluation to ensure suitability, with plans to expand indications to brain tumors and other more superficial tumors in the future.
Number of Cases and Success Rate
The team from Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Tsing Hua University built the BNCT treatment workflow from scratch. As of the end of June 2022, they have treated 285 patients with recurrent head and neck cancers and malignant brain tumors. Following BNCT treatment, over 70% of patients experienced efficacy in the form of tumor shrinkage or complete disappearance.
Source: Department of Heavy Particle and Radiation Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital
01.Online Advisory Consultation
Based on the client member’s condition and specific needs, we introduce and recommend medical institutions in Taiwan (such as hospitals and clinics) that best match their treatment requirements, along with relevant information needed for their visits.
02.Provide complete information
Clients are requested to provide medical records relevant to their condition as completely as possible, such as diagnostic certificates and diagnostic reports. If submitted by mail, please ensure backups are made in advance to prevent document loss. If submitted electronically, please make sure the images are clear and readable. Yuanfeng will issue an appointment confirmation within 7 to 10 business days after receiving the client’s request and complete medical documentation.
03.Guidelines for Submitting Medical Records & Appointment Timeline
Based on the medical records provided by the client, we prepare and organize the documentation, complete professional medical translations, and schedule consultations with expert physicians within 3 to 5 business days.
04.Expert Video Consultation Booking
Book appointments with Taiwan hospitals and medical specialists. Upon successful booking, you will receive an appointment confirmation email and an estimated cost statement.
healer guides clients through the online payment process to receive their online consultation link. Taiwanese medical experts then conduct online consultations with VIP members to provide professional medical advice.
05.The hospital provides a detailed medical treatment plan and cost estimate.
Upon the client’s consent, medical travel services to Taiwan will be initiated.
Q1. What are the advantages of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT)?
Dr. Chen Yi-wei pointed out two major benefits of BNCT for cancer patients:
High tumor selectivity with minimal treatment sessions required
Photon therapy often requires patients to make over 30 hospital visits to complete a course of treatment. In contrast, BNCT requires only 1, or at most 2, irradiation sessions, each lasting less than half an hour.
Mild side effects
Except for hair loss in the irradiated area and a transient increase in intracranial pressure in a small number of patients with malignant brain tumors, no other significant side effects have been observed clinically.
Globally, Taiwan and Japan are currently the only two countries capable of performing BNCT to treat cancer patients. The international medical community has also highly praised the quality of Taiwan’s BNCT care, making it a true “BNCT National Team” that competes on the world stage with a small team and limited resources.
Q2. What are the characteristics of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT)? How does it precisely target and destroy cancer cells?
Dr. Chen Yi-wei, an attending physician in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, explains that patients first receive an injection of a specially formulated boron-10 drug. Cancer cells absorb these drug molecules at a rate far higher than normal cells. Boron-10 is a naturally occurring isotope of boron that is non-radioactive, meaning there is no issue of residual radioactive material remaining after the injection.
In the next step, thermal neutron beams are irradiated from the outside. Neutrons are microscopic, uncharged particles that are much smaller than atoms. As long as they collide with boron-10 inside the cancer cells, the boron-10 will split and eject outward in two fragments—one large and one small (known in physics as a lithium nucleus and an $alpha$ particle)—destroying the cancer cells from within.
Q3. How much does Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) cost? Is it covered by National Health Insurance?
In Taiwan, BNCT is currently classified as emergency medical care and requires out-of-pocket payment. Costs include the boron-containing drug and the usage fee for National Tsing Hua University’s Nuclear Science and Technology Development Center (NSTDC) reactor. Drug dosage increases with patient weight; for example, a 60 kg patient requires 5 vials at approximately NT$88,000 per vial, plus a NT$120,000 reactor usage fee per session, totaling roughly NT$550,000 to NT$600,000.
Other expenses include hospitalization fees, medical examination fees, as well as accommodation, meal, and transportation costs in Taiwan.
Q4. Does BNCT treatment require hospitalization?
It is recommended that patients arrive in Taiwan two weeks before treatment. Prior to BNCT, patients need to be admitted for medical examinations, including an AXUMIN/PET scan. Hospitalization is required the day before BNCT treatment, and the patient will be transported to National Tsing Hua University by ambulance the following day. After treatment, one day of inpatient observation is required. Patients may be discharged the next day, with a follow-up appointment scheduled seven days later. If there is no discomfort, the patient may take a flight back to their home country.