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
