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Newsletter

2019 2nd Edition (Other Editions)

Hong Kong’s First Proton Therapy System for Cancer Treatment

Introducing the New Treatment

The Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital is introducing the proton therapy system for cancer radiation treatment, expected to launch by 2020. The Hitachi proton therapy equipment will be set up at HKSH Eastern District Advanced Medical Centre in the future. The proton therapy system will be first introduced to private hospitals, and the Hospital Authority will follow its development and benefits closely.

This treatment is used worldwide, as of June 2018, there are 27 operational proton therapy centres in the United States. Proton therapy is more accurate and efficient than conventional radiation therapy. It is usually used for early-stage tumors (stages I, II, and III) and many different types of cancers, such as lung cancer, prostate cancer, and brain cancer. It also reduces short term and long term side effects of radiation, which makes an exceptional advantage for treating child patients.

Despite the strengths of proton therapy, it is very costly. As the therapy is launched in Hong Kong, it is expected to be twice as expensive as traditional radiation therapy, and cost from around HK$300,000 to HK$800,000.

Mechanism Behind Proton Therapy

Proton therapy is a type of external beam radiotherapy that uses ionizing radiation. Proton beam therapy works by accelerating protons to a high energy state via a particle accelerator. This high energy state allows the protons to travel through tissue directly to a tumor. Because of their relatively large mass, protons scatter very little in the tissue, so the beam does not broaden much and stays focused on the tumor shape. This feature reduces the amount of tissue affected by the treatment and keeps healthy tissue from being damaged by the therapy.

Protons are positively charged particles which damage the DNA of cells, ultimately killing them by stopping their reproduction. Cancer cells are vulnerable to attacks on DNA because of their high rate of division and their reduced abilities to repair DNA damage.

Comparing with Conventioanl Radiation Treatments

Accurate and Precise Target

Proton therapy can accurately target specific locations, result in less damage to surrounding tissues. Conventional radiation therapy is less targeted, and more healthy cells in the region of a tumor may be damaged. Proton therapy is very effective when treating tumors that are near vital organs or children who need their developing structures to be preserved. It can reduce the likelihood of long term risks such as the chance of secondary cancers.

Short Life of Radiation

Opposite to X-way radiation, patients are exposed to an extremely low dose of radiation in proton therapy. After a treatment session, a patient can leave their treatment room without exposing others to radiation. This leads to comparatively fewer short term and long term side effects and damage.

Suitable for a Comprehensive Range of Cancers

Proton therapy is used to precisely target tumors and the match treatments to the exact size of the tumor. Hence a wide range of cancers can be treated with this method. It is capable of curing cancer tumors in the spine or brain in children, and also liver and lung cancers in adults.

Allow Patient to Maintain Active Lifestyle

Compared to traditional cancer treatments, proton therapy has much less impact on healthy tissues around the tumor and minimizes the pain associated with the treatment. Hence most patients are able to maintain their activities while being treated with proton therapy, including keeping being employed.

Role of Medical Insurance

Despite the fact that proton therapy is powerful in cancer treatment, it is extremely costly. While the general public may have purchased various kinds of medical insurance, the average medical coverage is around HK$200,000 maximum. This makes proton therapy hardly affordable.

Upgrading your medical insurance to a greater value is one effective method to solve the problem. One can have a higher chance to enjoy private healthcare services with costly medical treatments, such as proton therapy. There are a lot of insurance plans and packages available in the market that can be customized to meet individuals’ needs and have a greater amount for more extended options of coverage. It is wise to always seek advice from your financial planner to regularly review your investments and insurances.