Proton and Radiation Therapy Center, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
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Proton and Radiation Therapy Center, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
The Department of Radiation Oncology at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital was founded in 1979 by Dr. Fang-Jen Lin after returning to Taiwan from the United States. Trained at the renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, Dr. Lin introduced advanced American clinical systems and radiation therapy technology right from the department’s inception. Under the leadership of successive department directors, the unit has continuously brought in state-of-the-art technologies and equipment aligned with global standards to provide cancer patients with cutting-edge radiation therapy. With strong support from Founder Wang, the Proton and Radiation Therapy Center was established in 2015. Currently equipped with eight advanced linear accelerators and four proton therapy suites, the center treats more than 300 patients daily, making it one of the most experienced radiation therapy centers in Taiwan.
Ward Introduction
Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital features Premier Single Rooms, offering patients high-quality and comfortable medical care with a home-like feel.
Note: A business lounge is also available, providing coffee, computers, fax machines, and copiers.
Dining & Restaurant Guide
Located on the B1 level of the Medical Building, the food court at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital offers a diverse range of dining options, including buffets, Asian cuisine, stir-fries, Western dishes, and fresh produce and beverages to satisfy all your taste buds.
Payment Methods / Payment Options
Reference Treatment Costs:
As cancer treatment is extensive and varies by individual, actual costs depend on the patient’s condition and the treatment plan recommended by the physician.
Payment Methods:
Cash, bank transfer, and credit card accepted.
Recommended Nearby Accommodations
Proton and Radiation Therapy Center, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
The Department of Radiation Oncology at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital was founded in 1979 by Dr. Fang-Jen Lin after his return from the United States. Trained at the renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, Dr. Lin introduced advanced American systems and radiation therapy technologies at the department’s inception. Under the leadership of successive department directors, the unit has continuously brought in state-of-the-art technologies and equipment aligned with global standards to provide cancer patients with cutting-edge radiation therapy.
With strong support from Founder Wang, the Proton and Radiation Therapy Center was established in 2015. Currently equipped with eight advanced linear accelerators and four proton therapy suites, the center treats more than 300 patients daily, making it one of the most experienced radiation therapy centers in Taiwan.
Proton Therapy
Proton therapy is suitable for almost all patients who require radiation therapy. Due to its unique physical properties, proton therapy significantly reduces unnecessary low-dose radiation exposure to normal tissues. By utilizing proton therapy, radiation oncologists can further minimize treatment-related side effects without compromising therapeutic efficacy.
Indications for Proton Therapy
Brain tumors, ocular melanoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, sinonasal cancer, oral cavity cancer, salivary gland cancer, hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, gynecologic cancers, prostate cancer, genitourinary tumors, colorectal cancer, malignant sarcoma, leukemia, and lymphoma.
*Treatment methods and plans are subject to diagnosis and evaluation by specialist physicians.
*Source: Proton and Radiation Therapy Center, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Proton Therapy Outpatient Process:
- Document Preparation: Pathology reports (if available); medical imaging records such as ultrasound reports, X-rays, CT scans, MRI, PET/CT scans, and bone scans; blood test results from the past three months (including tumor markers); surgical summaries; and chemotherapy/radiation therapy medical summaries.
- Appointment Consultation: Book a specialized proton therapy outpatient clinic appointment; clinic fees are subject to official hospital announcements.
- Physician Evaluation: If the treatment is evaluated as suitable, simulation and positioning will be scheduled; if deemed unsuitable, assistance will be provided for referral to other specialties for subsequent treatment recommendations.
- Pre-Treatment Simulation & Positioning: Simulation is scheduled 2–4 weeks prior to treatment. The actual timeline is subject to hospital scheduling.
- Treatment Execution: Treatments are administered Monday through Friday for five consecutive days, with Saturdays and Sundays off. Each treatment session takes approximately 20–30 minutes.
*Treatment duration and dosage may vary based on individual conditions; please refer to the physician’s advice for detailed evaluation.
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 is proton therapy? How does it differ from photon therapy (X-ray therapy)?
Compared to common photon therapy, only a few radiation therapy centers worldwide are capable of using protons for cancer treatment. The major drawback of photon therapy is that it “cannot brake”—after damaging the tumor, the X-ray beam continues to pass through it, exposing surrounding healthy tissue to unnecessary radiation. Even though modern radiotherapy techniques have greatly improved precision, this unnecessary radiation exposure outside the target area remains an unavoidable limitation of photon therapy.
Unlike photon therapy, proton therapy possesses the unique physical property known as the “Bragg Peak.” When protons enter the body, they behave like a depth charge: the beam releases almost all its energy at a specific depth before stopping completely, leaving normal tissue behind the tumor with no extra radiation exposure, thereby reducing potential side effects. When side effects are minimized, the most direct result is an improvement in the patient’s quality of life. The most frequently asked question regarding proton therapy is whether it is more effective than photon therapy, which is actually quite complex. To put it simply, both have similar destructive capacity per dose, and there is generally no difference in tumor control rates between photon and proton therapies. However, it is worth noting that because proton therapy reduces damage to normal tissue, medical teams have the opportunity to safely increase radiation intensity while maintaining manageable side effect levels. In other words, proton therapy opens doors for treating certain cancers that were previously difficult to manage, with locally advanced liver cancer being a prime example.
However, proton therapy is not a perfect cure-all. Performing the same treatment with protons instead of photons increases complexity exponentially—akin to driving a heavy dump truck compared to riding a bicycle. Unlike photons, protons are charged particles with mass, requiring expensive and highly sophisticated equipment to administer treatment. This introduces its first, and perhaps most obvious, drawback: high treatment costs. Beyond financial considerations, proton therapy’s high sensitivity to tumor position and depth presents a challenge that demands a deep understanding and rigorous standard from physicians and radiation therapists regarding organ movement and alignment precision. This brings about the second drawback: treatment duration is relatively longer compared to photon therapy. Consequently, proton therapy may not be a suitable option for patients who cannot lie still for extended periods or whose vital signs are unstable.
In summary, proton therapy is a highly promising radiation therapy option; however, selecting the right candidates and designing the optimal treatment plan relies heavily on the expertise and experience of the medical team, including physicians, medical physicists, and radiation therapists.
Q2. What is heavy ion therapy? How does it differ from proton therapy?
Both heavy ion therapy and proton therapy belong to particle radiation therapy, which has gained significant popularity in recent years. Unlike proton therapy, heavy ion therapy uses heavy atomic nuclei beams for treatment, with carbon ion beams being the most well-known and commercially established example. Like proton therapy, heavy ion therapy possesses the physical characteristic known as the “Bragg Peak,” which reduces the radiation dose received by healthy surrounding tissue. Compared to photon and proton therapies, heavy ion therapy offers greater biological destructive power, providing an opportunity to destroy stubborn cancer cells that are resistant to radiation therapy. Furthermore, due to this enhanced cell-killing capacity, the treatment course for heavy ion therapy can often be significantly shortened, reducing the burden and physical fatigue of frequent travel for patients.
However, this greater destructive power comes with trade-offs. Traditionally, photon and proton therapies rely on fractionated treatment to allow normal tissue within the radiation field time to rest and repair; heavy ion therapy, on the other hand, significantly reduces the ability of healthy tissue to repair itself. Furthermore, because heavy ion therapy utilizes larger, heavier atomic nuclei beams, beam control becomes significantly more complex. Achieving high precision while flexibly rotating beam angles poses a major challenge for mechanical design.
Another issue is one that all emerging medical technologies face: a relative scarcity of clinical treatment experience. Because the physical properties of protons are relatively close to those of photons, proton therapy was able to advance rapidly by building upon the foundations of traditional photon therapy. Heavy ion therapy is quite different—its biological characteristics differ drastically from photons, and radiation centers equipped to deliver heavy ion therapy are extremely rare worldwide. As a result, many questions remain under active research: Which tumors benefit most from heavy ion therapy? What are the most suitable treatment courses and dosages? Answering these clinical questions will require time to accumulate more clinical data.
Finally, which is superior: heavy ion therapy or proton therapy? A Japanese scholar once offered this metaphor: Asking this question is like asking whether a sumo wrestler or a ninja is stronger—their core strengths are fundamentally different. Heavy ion therapy is like a sumo wrestler: immensely powerful and virtually unstoppable, yet lacking in nimble adaptability. Proton therapy, on the other hand, is like a ninja: capable of highly flexible adjustments, but lacking an edge against radiation-resistant tumors. In short, there is no single “best” treatment—only the treatment that is most suitable for the patient.
Q3. What is the proton therapy process?
Proton therapy requires approximately 15 to 30 minutes of radiation daily, five days a week, for a total course of four to seven weeks. The extent of side effects varies depending on individual health conditions. Compared to photon therapy, patients experience a lower likelihood and severity of side effects, allowing them to return to normal life more quickly. However, not every patient is suitable for proton therapy; therefore, regarding suitability or other questions, please consult further with specialist physicians and medical professionals.
Source: Proton and Radiation Therapy Center, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.
Please directly contact our medical travel consultants to assist you with integrating your medical information and scheduling a consultation.
Please directly contact our medical travel consultants to assist you with integrating your medical information and scheduling a consultation.