Taipei Veterans General Hospital
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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).
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
Beams used in external beam radiation therapy can generally be categorized into two types: photons (typically X-rays) and particles (such as protons). Heavy ion therapy is a specific form of particle therapy, termed “heavy” because the particles used are heavier than protons. Currently, carbon ion therapy is the primary form of heavy ion treatment.
Traditional external beam radiation therapy (photon therapy) gradually loses energy as it travels deeper into the body. For deep-seated tumors, photon beams can inadvertently damage the healthy tissues they pass through on their way to the target. In contrast, particle beams, due to their unique physical properties, can deposit the majority of their energy directly within the tumor site. This allows for an adequate radiation dose to reach deep tumors while minimizing damage to adjacent normal tissue. Furthermore, heavy ion therapy holds a distinct advantage over proton therapy due to its higher relative biological effectiveness (RBE). While the RBE of protons is similar to that of photons, heavy ions produce a biological effect approximately three times greater than photons, thereby enhancing local control rates for tumors resistant to conventional radiation therapy.
Currently, heavy ion therapy facilities are primarily concentrated in Japan, where heavy ion radiation has been used to treat malignant tumors for many years. Its efficacy is well-documented across numerous medical publications, demonstrating impressive therapeutic outcomes for prostate cancer, early-stage lung cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, as well as bone and soft tissue sarcomas. For example, in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), traditional radiation therapy often yields limited effectiveness due to underlying liver cirrhosis in most patients and the high susceptibility of healthy liver cells to radiation damage. Particle therapy overcomes these limitations by concentrating the radiation dose within the tumor while minimizing harm to surrounding healthy tissues. According to research published by Japan’s National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), carbon ion radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma achieves a 5-year local control rate of 80% [1].
Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on heavy ion cancer treatment and medical research with Japan’s National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS). Furthermore, on December 21, 2015, the hospital received generous donations from the Hung Kuo Group, the Hung Tai Group, and Mr. Samuel Yin’s enterprise to construct Taiwan’s first Heavy Particle Therapy Center. Moving forward, TVGH will continue its exchanges with Japanese heavy ion specialists and send medical staff to Japan for advanced training, aiming to introduce this cutting-edge treatment technology at an early date and offer patients a wider array of cancer treatment options.
Introduction to Heavy Ion Cancer Therapy Technology
Malignant tumors have ranked as the leading cause of death for 30 consecutive years, posing a major threat to public health in Taiwan. Current treatment modalities primarily consist of surgery, chemotherapy, embolization, radiofrequency ablation, targeted therapy, and radiation therapy. Heavy ion cancer therapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy. Unlike traditional radiotherapy, which utilizes high-energy X-rays or electron beams, the Heavy Particle Therapy Center established by Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH) ionizes carbon atoms into carbon ions and uses a synchrotron to accelerate them to 70% of the speed of light to precisely target cancer lesions.
Due to its unique Bragg Peak property, the heavy ion beam can penetrate deep into human tissue (Figure 1), using pinpoint precision to release concentrated energy that destroys cancer cells by completely severing their double-strand DNA. Furthermore, owing to these distinct physical properties, heavy ion beams deposit minimal energy as they traverse normal tissues, effectively avoiding unnecessary radiation damage. Figure 2 illustrates the dose distribution comparison between heavy ion and photon beams in a patient with spinal metastasis: heavy ion therapy concentrates the dose directly within the tumor with virtually zero radiation to the lungs and heart ahead, whereas photon beams accumulate dose along their entire path through the body.
Shorter Treatment Course: No hospitalization required.
Heavy ion cancer therapy offers several significant clinical advantages. Its concentrated radiation energy enables precise targeting of tumor lesions while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue and cells. The treatment is painless for patients with minimal side effects, and more importantly, it is uniquely effective against radiation-resistant, hard-to-treat malignant tumors compared to traditional X-ray therapy. Notably, heavy ion therapy features a short treatment course, allowing patients to undergo therapy without requiring hospitalization.
Breakthroughs of Heavy Ion Therapy in Treating Refractory Cancers
Harnessing these valuable physical and biological properties, heavy ion therapy offers a breakthrough for patients suffering from hard-to-treat cancers. It has proven especially effective against complex malignancies such as adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, oral mucosal malignant melanoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. Furthermore, heavy ion therapy has demonstrated impressive clinical outcomes in head and neck, lung, liver, skull base, pancreatic, gynecological, colorectal, and renal cancers. As a safe and highly promising modality for difficult-to-treat cancers, heavy ion therapy brings renewed hope and vital new options to patients who have not responded to conventional treatments.
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.
Q1Heavy Ion Therapy Process
1.Preparation of Medical Records
2.Physician Outpatient Evaluation
3.Pre-Treatment Preparation: CT Simulation
4.Treatment Planning: The radiation treatment plan is designed conjointly by radiation oncologists and medical physicists.
5.During the treatment phase, sessions are administered four times per week; the specific schedule varies by diagnosis and is subject to the physician’s recommendation.
6.Continuous follow-up care will be conducted at the outpatient clinic after the completion of treatment.
Q2.Number of Heavy Ion Therapy Sessions
Q3.Is hospitalization required for heavy ion therapy?
Heavy ion therapy features a short treatment course, so hospitalization is not required for patients.
Source: Department of Heavy Particle and Radiation Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital