Medical Information – 遠丰醫旅

Medical Information

cindy@healer.tw — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 07:31:45 +0000

Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH) inaugurated its heavy ion therapy facility on May 15 this year, completing treatment for 100 patients within six months as of today (Dec. 5). TVGH Superintendent Chen Wei-ming noted that pancreatic cancer—previously considered untreatable—can now be surgically removed following chemotherapy and heavy ion therapy. Other conditions, including prostate, lung, liver, bone and soft tissue sarcoma, head and neck, and gynecological cancers, have also been successfully treated.

Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH) held a Thanksgiving Ceremony today to mark two major clinical milestones: achieving 100 heavy ion therapy cases and completing 5,000 Robotic-Assisted Da Vinci surgeries. The event also featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Taiwan’s first high-tech negative-pressure ICU and the launch of the “TVGH No. 1 Cloud” supercomputer. Veterans Affairs Council Minister Feng Shih-kuan attended the event, commending the TVGH team led by Superintendent Chen Wei-ming for their exceptional achievements in cancer treatment, critical care epidemic prevention, and smart healthcare to benefit patients. He encouraged the entire TVGH healthcare system to continue working together to deliver high-quality medical services.

“A patient’s life is priceless. Seeing critically ill patients recover makes everything worth it,” said Chen Wei-ming. He noted that Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH) built the heavy ion therapy center despite the operational losses it would incur. Currently, the treatment process is proceeding smoothly, with patients making good recoveries and their long-term outcomes being continuously monitored. With many candidates still on the waiting list, the operating center has drawn a steady stream of visiting delegations from around the world.

Chen Wei-ming also expressed his gratitude to the entire TVGH staff for their unit, solidarity, and collaborative efforts in presenting these remarkable achievements at the end of the year. Beyond heavy ion therapy, Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH) has completed 5,000 robotic-assisted Da Vinci surgeries, including challenging cancer procedures such as pancreatic cancer, periampullary cancer, and partial nephrectomy for renal cancer. Currently, TVGH holds the highest case volume nationwide for Da Vinci procedures in these three conditions. Furthermore, the broader Veterans Affairs Council healthcare system has collectively performed nearly 12,000 Da Vinci surgeries.

Today also saw the inauguration of “TVGH No. 1 Cloud”—Taiwan’s first clustered supercomputing platform custom-designed for a hospital. Powered by next-generation AI processing capabilities, a robust data center, and innovative computing architecture, the platform aims to advance medical applications of generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs).

“TVGH No. 1 Cloud” significantly enhances overall computing capacity, accelerating the hospital’s progress in precision medicine, smart healthcare, disease prognosis prediction, genomic sequence analysis, digital pathology precision diagnosis, and AI-driven drug discovery. Furthermore, it serves as an optimal development platform for AI applications.

Chen Wei-ming noted that this not only enhances diagnostic precision but also accelerates the formulation of personalized treatment strategies for various diseases. This marks not only a major milestone in TVGH’s IT development, but also a significant step forward for Taiwan in high-performance computational medicine. Furthermore, it opens new avenues for international medical collaboration, further driving innovation and development in medical AI.

In response to future emerging infectious diseases, Taiwan’s first smart-tech Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has been launched at Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH). TVGH invested over NT$100 million to construct 15 smart negative-pressure isolation ICU beds in its Technology Building, which is structurally separated from the main inpatient buildings to ensure compartmentalization. The facility integrates cutting-edge and self-developed technologies—including an AI smart mirror for PPE donning and doffing guidance and a hand hygiene monitoring system—which have earned recognition from the National Healthcare Quality Award. Additionally, satellite nursing stations facilitate remote image monitoring and ventilator adjustments, while smart TVs and three-way video communication systems are installed. Robots are also deployed to assist nurses with supply transport, minimizing infection exposure risks for medical personnel.

During epidemic outbreaks, this facility provides negative-pressure isolation intensive care under the highest infection control standards; during normal operations, it functions as a respiratory intensive care unit for general critical care. This approach achieves five key objectives: “blocking the virus, transmitting signals out, delivering medical care in, connecting care partners, and keeping family members visually connected”—thereby significantly enhancing the quality of critical care. Furthermore, multiple advanced technological innovations, including smart robots, elevate both care quality and infection control safety.

Source: United Daily News, Dec. 6, 2023 / Reported by Shen Neng-yuan, Taipei

TVGH Superintendent Chen Wei-ming pointed out that life is priceless, and that seeing critically ill patients find hope after Taipei Veterans General Hospital built its heavy ion therapy center makes everything worth it. Photo / Provided by Taipei Veterans General Hospital

Heavy Ion Cancer Therapy Costs Millions with High Demand; Taipei Veterans General Hospital Shows Prominent Success in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

cindy@healer.tw — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 07:28:26 +0000

Taipei Veterans General Hospital launched its heavy ion therapy service on May 15 this year, completing treatment for 100 patients within six months as of today (12/5). According to stats from the hospital, the top four cancers treated with heavy ion therapy over the past six months are prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and lung cancer—with prostate and pancreatic cancers each accounting for one-third of cases, and pancreatic cancer showing the best results. The current approach for treating pancreatic cancer combines heavy ion therapy with chemotherapy, offering patients who were originally unsuitable for surgery a chance to shrink their tumors enough for surgical resection.

Li Wei-chiang, Vice President of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, noted that because the pancreas is located deep within the body, pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect early and is often diagnosed at Stage IV. At this stage, the tumor has typically adhered to surrounding blood vessels and tissues, rendering surgery impossible. Furthermore, conventional radiation therapy can easily cause complications, making treatment exceptionally difficult, ineffective, and associated with a high mortality rate.

Taipei Veterans General Hospital established the “Pancreatic Cancer Treatment and Research Center” in August this year. Li Wei-chiang pointed out that current pancreatic cancer treatment utilizes heavy ion therapy combined with chemotherapy, which has successfully detached tumors from surrounding blood vessels and tissues in several patients to facilitate subsequent surgery. Multiple patients have already received treatment, with Li stating, “This is what brings me the greatest joy.”

Currently, the number of pancreatic cancer patients receiving heavy ion therapy at Taipei Veterans General Hospital ranks second, behind only prostate cancer. When Japanese experts visited Taipei VGH recently and learned about these pancreatic cancer treatment outcomes, they were deeply impressed.

Li Wei-chiang noted that many cancer patients view heavy ion therapy as their last ray of hope, with a significant number being referred from other hospitals. In response, Taipei VGH has added special outpatient clinics to evaluate patients’ conditions as quickly as possible. Heavy ion therapy at Taipei VGH requires a varying number of treatment sessions per course depending on the type of cancer—for instance, pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer each require 12 sessions. Each full treatment course costs approximately NT$1 million to NT$1.5 million out-of-pocket, and most patients are over 60 years old.

Heavy ion therapy is an out-of-pocket treatment. For cancer patients who do not meet the treatment criteria, the hospital strictly screens candidates and refers them to relevant departments for appropriate care, preventing patients from spending money unnecessarily on unsuitable therapy. Li Wei-chiang noted that many breast cancer patients visit the heavy ion outpatient clinic seeking treatment; however, since effective medications covered by National Health Insurance are currently available for breast cancer, the hospital declines these requests even if patients are willing to pay out-of-pocket, as patient well-being must come first.

Li Wei-chiang noted that heavy ion therapy is costly and recalled that at the time of its opening in May, the hospital pledged to reserve 2% of its capacity annually to treat underprivileged patients free of charge. Currently, one eligible candidate from a disadvantaged background has submitted an application. A meeting will be held this Friday to review the patient’s medical condition and evaluate whether heavy ion therapy is suitable. As a public hospital, Taipei VGH remains committed to fulfilling its promise and upholding its responsibility to care for public health.

Source:

2023-12-06 23:21 聯合報／記者沈能元／台北即時報導

Single-Stage Cartilage Repair Surgery: Say Goodbye to Degeneration and Welcome a New Life

cindy@healer.tw — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 05:08:54 +0000

RevoCart Surgery Services

Description:

RevoCart surgery service is a minimally invasive procedure that utilizes autologous cartilage processed through physical and chemical treatment to activate chondrocytes, combined with a bioresorbable biphasic scaffold (mimicking cartilage and subchondral bone).
Implanted via arthroscopy or a minimally invasive incision, it enables cartilage regeneration and repair. The procedure takes approximately 1 to 2 hours, and patients can typically be discharged 1 to 2 days post-surgery.
The RevoCart team conducted clinical trials in Taiwan, with its efficacy and safety certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW). Follow-up data spanning approximately ten years demonstrates that post-operative joint pain is significantly relieved, quality of life is enhanced, and patient satisfaction remains high.

Features:

Single-stage, minimally invasive procedure with small incisions.
Regenerated cartilage is structurally similar to native cartilage.
Extends the lifespan of your natural joint.
Allows a return to high-intensity sports and exercise after recovery.

Symptoms:

* Pain caused by cartilage and subchondral bone defects.
Early-stage osteoarthritis (without severe mechanical axis alignment deviation).

Target Area:

knee
Talus

Rehabilitation Services:

Post-operative rehabilitation is required.
Initially practice partial weight-bearing post-surgery, gradually increasing weight load as pain subsides. Use of a knee brace and assistive devices is recommended, alongside joint range-of-motion stretching exercises to stimulate cartilage regeneration and repair.

Outpatient Care Process:

Outpatient Consultation
MRI Examination
Surgical Scheduling (Inpatient Required)
Home-based Rehabilitation

How to Schedule a Consultation:

Contact us sultants to learn more about medical care and treatment services. Feel free to join Far East Medical Tourism for a consultation.
LINE@:

https://lin.ee/imkgrLh

Healer Green Channel Service:

Priority Outpatient Appointment Assistance
Personalized Medical Escort Service
Post-operative Rehabilitation Arrangements

Outpatient Consultation

Postal Hospital
Taipei Veterans General Hospital
Tri-Service General Hospital Neihu Main Branch
Tri-Service General Hospital Keelung Branch
Zhongshan Hospital
Taipei Medical University Hospital
Wanfang Hospital
Shuang Ho Hospital
Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital
En Chu Kong Hospital
Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital
Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital
Changhua Christian Hospital
Taichung Veterans General Hospital
An Nan Hospital
National Cheng Kung University Hospital
Sinlau Hospital
Asia University Hospital
Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital

Taiwan’s First “Exablate” Case Relieves Parkinson’s Tremor Symptoms!

cindy@healer.tw — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 11:22:12 +0000

Taiwan’s First Exablate Case Relieves Parkinson’s Tremor Symptoms!
In November 2018, the Exablate Center performed a treatment to relieve symptoms in a patient suffering from Parkinson’s tremors. Post-surgery, the patient’s resting tremor in the left hand was successfully alleviated. Now, when dining out and joining social gatherings, they can finally feel more confident and no longer fear drawing unwanted attention!

Loss of Appetite Turn Out to Be Pancreatic Cancer: Concurrent Proton and Chemotherapy Achieves a Turnaround!

cindy@healer.tw — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 02:38:10 +0000

Loss of Appetite Turn Out to Be Pancreatic Cancer: Concurrent Proton and Chemotherapy Achieves a Turnaround!

In October last year, 57-year-old Ms. Chen suffered from a loss of appetite, losing nearly 10 kilograms within three months. After seeking medical attention at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, she was diagnosed with Stage III pancreatic cancer. However, because the tumor had already invaded major blood vessels, it could not be surgically removed. She then visited the Proton and Radiation Therapy Center at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital for a consultation to see if proton therapy could provide further treatment options.

During her consultation at the Department of Radiation Oncology with Director Chang Tung-Chieh, Ms. Chen and her family learned—thanks to Director Chang’s warm and professional explanation—that besides surgical treatment, pancreatic cancer can also be treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (concurrent radiation therapy and chemotherapy). However, conventional radiation therapy (photon therapy) is limited by its energy penetration depth, causing significant damage to the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, the radiation dose cannot be increased during conventional chemoradiotherapy, and chemotherapy often has to be halted due to side effects, making it difficult to achieve optimal efficacy. In contrast, proton therapy can lower the dose delivered to the gastrointestinal tract and reduce side effects, allowing a higher radiation dose to be delivered directly to the tumor for better therapeutic outcomes than conventional photon therapy. Consequently, Ms. Chen and her family decided to undergo concurrent proton therapy combined with chemotherapy.

Translation:
During the approximately one-and-a-half-month course of concurrent proton therapy and chemotherapy, Ms. Chen did not experience severe diarrhea or the need to halt treatment—issues commonly seen with conventional therapy. She had only mild diarrhea, which did not affect her overall nutritional status. As a result, the chemotherapy administered concurrently with proton therapy proceeded according to the original plan without any dose reductions or interruptions. Ms. Chen was also able to continue receiving consolidation chemotherapy following the concurrent proton and chemotherapy treatment, ultimately achieving the desired optimal therapeutic outcome.

Three months after completing proton therapy, Ms. Chen underwent a PET scan to evaluate the tumor’s response to treatment. The results showed complete local control with no metabolic activity detected. Subsequent CT scans revealed that the original tumor had shrunk from 4 cm to approximately 2 cm, indicating a favorable response and suggesting that the remaining mass is very likely residual scar tissue post-treatment. She will continue to be monitored closely.

Proton radiation therapy has brought hope for a cure to pancreatic cancer patients whose tumors were previously considered inoperable and left doctors with limited options. Utilizing the latest proton radiation therapy enables patients to achieve pain-free treatment, superior efficacy, and fewer side effects, thereby reversing their condition. In the future, we hope more patients can stage a successful comeback just like Ms. Chen!

Source:

http://www.chang-gung.com/news-1.aspx?type=&rows=10&page=1&id=2020041016492361544&mid=120&bid=3

Inner Mongolia Man Finds New Life Through Proton Therapy After Post-Surgery Lung Cancer Metastasis

cindy@healer.tw — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 01:43:48 +0000

Inner Mongolia Man Finds New Life Through Proton Therapy After Post-Surgery Lung Cancer Metastasis

Just when a patient believes they have escaped the threat of death after undergoing difficult surgery, realizing that the disease is still lingering comes as the biggest shock. This situation is often the most agonizing for both the patient and the family supporting them through the ordeal.

Mr. Tang (pseudonym), a man in his 50s from Inner Mongolia, was once a typical optimistic nomad of the grasslands, blessed with a bold, clear, resonant voice and a bright, hearty smile. However, after being diagnosed with lung cancer during an examination in February 2016 and undergoing surgical resection, his originally bold and clear voice vanished completely, replaced by a raspy, low-pitched guttural sound that sent his spirits plummeting to rock bottom. Yet troubles came in succession—shortly after, his local doctor delivered another piece of bad news: the tumor site appeared not to have been cleanly excised, posing a risk of further spread and metastasis. Having barely survived the grueling surgery to save his life, Mr. Tang was immediately confronted with the fact that his life remained under threat; this double blow left him deeply despondent, looking utterly crestfallen and frail, which weighed heavily on his worried family.

After continuous searching for treatment options and consultations, Mr. Tang and his family decided a month later to fly nearly 2,000 kilometers to Taiwan’s Chang Gung Memorial Hospital for a comprehensive examination. Following a series of tests, including a bronchoscopy and CT scans, Dr. Kuo Han-pin from Chang Gung’s Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine evaluated that residual tumor tissue and partial metastasis were indeed present. However, because it had only been a short month since Mr. Tang’s surgery, and his post-operative hoarseness was quite severe, Dr. Kuo proceeded with utmost caution, concluding that chemotherapy combined with proton therapy should be administered first to stabilize his condition in order to achieve the best medical outcome.

In recent years, the development and application of proton therapy in cancer treatment have been rapidly expanding. The Proton and Radiation Therapy Center at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital opened in 2015, making it the largest proton therapy center in Asia. Its biggest difference compared to conventional photon therapy—the radiation therapy currently used by most hospitals—lies in the strong penetrative nature of photon beams, which are more likely to damage normal tissue behind the tumor site. In contrast to traditional radiation therapy using X-rays, proton therapy allows precise energy control, releasing a massive amount of energy at a specific depth while releasing minimal energy along its pathway. Furthermore, charged particles have a fixed depth of penetration, leaving zero radiation beyond the tumor area and drastically reducing damage to healthy surrounding tissue. For patients whose tumors are unsuitable for surgical removal, proton therapy lowers treatment risks, reduces distant radiation dosage, and significantly minimizes side effects, enabling patients to maintain a good quality of life throughout their course of treatment.

After deciding to receive treatment at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Mr. Tang traveled from Mongolia to Taiwan again in May 2016, undergoing a total of three weeks of chemotherapy and 12 sessions of proton therapy before returning to Inner Mongolia once his condition was confirmed to be stable. Half a year later, he returned to Taiwan’s Chang Gung Memorial Hospital for a follow-up examination. Follow-up CT scans confirmed that there was no tumor recurrence, though an inflammatory reaction was present at the site of the primary tumor. The medical team evaluated that the inflammation was a normal post-proton-therapy reaction and no cause for overconcern. They advised Mr. Tang to pay attention to daily self-care, including eating slowly and chewing thoroughly rather than taking large bites, as well as maintaining regular exercise and continuing his pulmonary medications, after which he would only need to return for routine follow-up checkups at scheduled intervals.

For patients with relatively advanced lung cancer that has not yet metastasized to distant sites, combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy currently offers the best therapeutic outcomes. Because larger tumors are often accompanied by lung collapse, which severely impacts a patient’s physical condition and quality of life, proton therapy can minimize radiation damage to the remaining lung tissue and preserve maximal lung function. Learning that his cancerous lesions had been successfully cleared left Mr. Tang with a deep appreciation for the precise diagnosis and high-standard care at Taiwan’s Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Reflecting on his three medical trips to Taiwan, he shared that he was not only impressed by the hospital’s advanced facilities but also felt completely at ease throughout the process. Now, he and his family no longer live under a cloud of worry, thanks to the dedicated efforts of Dr. Kuo Han-pin and the medical team. Moving forward, he will continue regular follow-up checkups and focus on daily self-care in hopes of making a full recovery soon, wishing to sing freely once again on the vast grasslands.

Prominent Lawyer Travels Abroad for Medical Care, Amazed to Find Proton Therapy Free from Damage Caused by Conventional Radiation

cindy@healer.tw — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 01:39:16 +0000

Xiao Chen (pseudonym), a 35-year-old male and a prominent lawyer from Malaysia, traveled to Taiwan for nasopharyngeal carcinoma treatment. Facing a second recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, he was cautious. Through online searches and extensive inquiries, he learned that Taiwan has vast experience treating nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, rendering it almost as routine as managing a common cold. Furthermore, our hospital possesses proton therapy machines, a facility available in only a few Asian countries. Xiao Chen then provided our hospital with his relevant medical reports from his first nasopharyngeal carcinoma treatment in Malaysia—including pathology slides, whole-body PET scans, and initial photon therapy records. Accompanied by his wife and filled with hope, he traveled across the ocean to Taiwan Chang Gung Memorial Hospital seeking proton therapy.

Upon Xiao Chen’s arrival in Taiwan, our center immediately arranged outpatient consultations and relevant examinations with his specified physicians, Dr. Chang Tung-Chieh and chemotherapy specialist Dr. Hsieh Chia-Hsun. Following the recommendations of both physicians, Xiao Chen underwent a whole-body PET scan and blood tests once again to serve as baseline indicators for his proton therapy and chemotherapy. Dr. Chang Tung-Chieh, with an approachable and humorous tone, explained the re-irradiation treatment plan to Xiao Chen and his wife, who appeared strong on the surface. Dr. Chang recommended a combined regimen of 33 proton therapy sessions and 33 photon therapy sessions, paired with weekly chemotherapy concurrent with radiation therapy to achieve disease control. During the course of treatment, Xiao Chen experienced almost none of the skin discomfort typically caused by prolonged radiation exposure, which greatly surprised him. Based on his previous experience with photon therapy in Malaysia, severe radiation dermatitis at the irradiated site was quite common.

As his treatment in Taiwan drew to a close, the tumor on the inner side of Xiao Chen’s neck gradually shrank. By simply maintaining a normal daily routine and acquiring proper knowledge regarding medication, Xiao Chen will only need to monitor post-radiation side effects—including regular dental follow-ups—after returning to his home country. With a treatment outcome like this, who can say that a cancer recurrence is an incurable disease?

Proton radiation therapy is currently the world’s most advanced technique for tumor radiotherapy. Compared to conventional radiation therapy, proton radiation therapy causes significantly less damage to healthy cells surrounding the lesion site, resulting in fewer side effects. Many highly treatable tumors can achieve high cure rates through proton therapy (either alone or combined with surgery and chemotherapy). Beyond improving quality of life both during and after treatment, proton therapy also reduces the risk of developing secondary malignancies caused by the “low-to-moderate radiation doses” delivered to normal tissues in conventional radiotherapy.

:http://www.chang-gung.com/case1.aspx?rows=8&page=1……