Yonsei University Health System (YUHS) has made a significant stride in the battle against cancer by revolutionizing the approach to cancer treatment and shifting the focus towards a cutting-edge heavy particle therapy machine.

YUHS celebrated a momentous milestone with the inauguration ceremony of the Heavy Particle Therapy Center in Seoul, marking the official commencement of its operation.

Since successfully treating its inaugural patient with heavy particle therapy on April 28th, YUHS has extended this groundbreaking treatment to a total of 10 prostate cancer patients, as of this Monday.

The hospital plans to gradually augment the number of patients receiving heavy particle therapy by the end of this year, with 50 patients currently waiting for prostate cancer treatment. 

The growing interest in heavy particle therapy among cancer patients is remarkable. Currently, there are over 50 patients eagerly awaiting evaluation to determine their eligibility for this advanced treatment option specifically for prostate cancer. 

A Russian man in his 50s, diagnosed with stage 1 prostate cancer, underwent a comprehensive treatment regimen consisting of 12 cycles over a three-week period. After completing the treatment, he returned to his home country.

YUHS operates a fixed beam treatment room for prostate cancer but plans to expand its service by opening two gantry treatment rooms for various cancer types, including lung, liver, and pancreatic cancer, by the end of this year. 

Currently, the hospital treats 12 patients a day for prostate cancer with heavy particle therapy and plans to gradually increase the number of patients. 

Heavy particle therapy for prostate cancer costs about 50 million won ($38,816) for 12 cycles of treatment over three months. 

Indeed, heavy particle therapy is known for its costliness; however, it offers a distinctive advantage in accurately identifying the tumor's location and delivering precise treatment. By optimizing the angle of irradiation, this therapy enables swift and accurate targeting of the tumor using a beam of accelerated carbon ions, while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

"We are currently treating 12 patients a day in the fixed beam treatment room," said Professor Hong Chae-seon of Radiation Oncology at Severance Hospital. 

“We started treating two patients with prostate cancer in April and increased the number of patients by one per week, and now we are treating 12 patients daily." 

The hospital operates the heavy particle therapy center four days a week from Tuesday to Friday, excluding Mondays, he said. 

As YUHS started the first treatment on April 28, the hospital needs to await a period of one to three years to determine the efficacy of the heavy particle therapy in curing the patient, Hong noted.

"It's very early to judge the cure because the treatment has just begun and there are people who have just finished the treatment," he said. "However, we believe that patient satisfaction will be high because of the short treatment time.” 

Yoon Dong-sup, president & CEO of YUHS, expressed his ambition to move into the future with a never-ending challenge to conquer cancer, starting with the opening of the Heavy Particle Therapy Center. 

"We will do our best with every step we take to become a medical institution that presents a new paradigm of cancer treatment in Korea and repays the trust and support we have received from the public," Yoon said. "We will move forward into the future with an unstoppable challenge to conquer cancer." 

Meanwhile, to celebrate “Veterans Month” in June, YUHS is inviting prostate cancer patients who are currently serving or have retired from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, National Police Agency, and National Fire Agency to receive treatment for free.  

Among the patients recommended by each organization, YUHS selects suitable patients and supports both the cost of interventional radiotherapy as well as tests and medical expenses.