What is proton therapy?

Proton therapy uses accelerated proton beams (rather than photons used in conventional radiotherapy) to deliver radiation. Protons deposit most of their energy at a defined depth — the Bragg peak — and stop, sparing healthy tissue distal to the tumour. This is dosimetrically advantageous in paediatric cancers, prostate, head & neck, and base-of-skull tumours where reducing collateral dose materially improves long-term outcomes.

Where can I get proton therapy in China?

Eight clinical centres are operating: Shanghai Proton & Heavy Ion Center (Fudan University), Wuwei Heavy Ion Therapy Center (Gansu — also offers carbon-ion), Hefei Proton Therapy Center, Tianjin Proton Center, Hangzhou (Run Run Shaw), Nanjing, Hong Kong (HKAH) and Taiwan. Shanghai and Wuwei have the longest international patient track records.

How much does proton therapy cost in China?

Course pricing: $40,000–$80,000 for standard adult indications (prostate, head & neck), $60,000–$120,000 for complex paediatric or base-of-skull cases including hospitalisation. The same course in US centres typically runs $150,000–$250,000 plus pre-authorisation friction. China centres do not require insurance authorisation.

What cancers is proton therapy best for?

Strongest evidence and clinical preference: paediatric cancers (medulloblastoma, retinoblastoma, sarcomas — reducing late toxicity is critical), prostate cancer, base-of-skull tumours (chordoma, chondrosarcoma), head and neck tumours adjacent to optic structures, selected hepatocellular carcinoma and selected lung tumours. Less compelling for diffuse disease where IMRT performs equivalently at lower cost.

How long is the treatment course?

Typical course: 4–8 weeks of daily fractions (Monday–Friday), 5–35 fractions depending on indication. Plan on 6–10 weeks total stay including pre-treatment imaging, simulation, plan QA, and follow-up. Treatment itself is painless and outpatient — most patients can sightsee or work remotely between sessions.

What's the difference between proton and heavy-ion (carbon-ion) therapy?

Both use the Bragg peak. Carbon-ion has higher relative biological effectiveness (RBE ~3 vs ~1.1 for proton) — meaning more cell-kill per unit physical dose — making it more effective for radioresistant tumours (e.g. sarcoma, melanoma, some recurrent disease). China's Wuwei and Lanzhou centres are among only a handful globally offering carbon-ion treatment.

Oncology · Proton & heavy-ion

Proton therapy in China,
at one-third the price.

Eight clinical proton centres, two heavy-ion facilities. The Bragg-peak advantage in paediatric, prostate, head & neck and base-of-skull tumours. Course pricing $40–120k vs $150–250k in the US.

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Centres

Six clinical centres open
to international patients.

Shanghai

Shanghai Proton & Heavy Ion Center 上海质子重离子医院

Fudan University · ~10,000 patients treated · longest international track record

Wuwei (Gansu)

Wuwei Heavy Ion Therapy Center 武威重离子治疗中心

Both proton and carbon-ion · radioresistant tumours specialty

Hefei

Hefei Proton Therapy Center 合肥离子医学中心

Newer facility · adult and paediatric oncology

Tianjin

Tianjin Proton Center 泰心质子中心

Strong paediatric program · pencil-beam scanning

Hangzhou

Run Run Shaw Proton Center 邵逸夫质子中心

Adult solid tumours · advanced imaging integration

Hong Kong

HKAH Proton Center 香港养和质子中心

Cantonese & English support · accessible from international hubs

FAQ

Proton therapy, in plain language.

What is proton therapy?: Proton therapy uses accelerated proton beams (rather than photons used in conventional radiotherapy) to deliver radiation. Protons deposit most of their energy at a defined depth — the Bragg peak — and stop, sparing healthy tissue distal to the tumour. This is dosimetrically advantageous in paediatric cancers, prostate, head & neck, and base-of-skull tumours where reducing collateral dose materially improves long-term outcomes.
Where can I get proton therapy in China?: Eight clinical centres are operating: Shanghai Proton & Heavy Ion Center (Fudan University), Wuwei Heavy Ion Therapy Center (Gansu — also offers carbon-ion), Hefei Proton Therapy Center, Tianjin Proton Center, Hangzhou (Run Run Shaw), Nanjing, Hong Kong (HKAH) and Taiwan. Shanghai and Wuwei have the longest international patient track records.
How much does proton therapy cost in China?: Course pricing: $40,000–$80,000 for standard adult indications (prostate, head & neck), $60,000–$120,000 for complex paediatric or base-of-skull cases including hospitalisation. The same course in US centres typically runs $150,000–$250,000 plus pre-authorisation friction. China centres do not require insurance authorisation.
What cancers is proton therapy best for?: Strongest evidence and clinical preference: paediatric cancers (medulloblastoma, retinoblastoma, sarcomas — reducing late toxicity is critical), prostate cancer, base-of-skull tumours (chordoma, chondrosarcoma), head and neck tumours adjacent to optic structures, selected hepatocellular carcinoma and selected lung tumours. Less compelling for diffuse disease where IMRT performs equivalently at lower cost.
How long is the treatment course?: Typical course: 4–8 weeks of daily fractions (Monday–Friday), 5–35 fractions depending on indication. Plan on 6–10 weeks total stay including pre-treatment imaging, simulation, plan QA, and follow-up. Treatment itself is painless and outpatient — most patients can sightsee or work remotely between sessions.
What's the difference between proton and heavy-ion (carbon-ion) therapy?: Both use the Bragg peak. Carbon-ion has higher relative biological effectiveness (RBE ~3 vs ~1.1 for proton) — meaning more cell-kill per unit physical dose — making it more effective for radioresistant tumours (e.g. sarcoma, melanoma, some recurrent disease). China's Wuwei and Lanzhou centres are among only a handful globally offering carbon-ion treatment.

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Proton therapy in China,at one-third the price.

Six clinical centres opento international patients.