Heavy ion therapy(carbon ion therapy)Interest in is growing rapidly in Korea.. The cancer cell destruction power is much stronger than that of conventional radiation, while normal tissue damage is minimized. ‘dream cancer treatment’It is called. It is emerging as a new alternative for patients at high risk of recurrence or difficult to undergo surgery..
■ What is heavy ion therapy?
This is a method of accelerating heavy particles such as carbon ions at ultra-high speed and accurately delivering them to cancerous tissue.. XIt directly damages the nucleus of cancer cells using particles much heavier than wires or protons., It is characterized by having relatively little effect on normal cells..
In particular, by utilizing the Bragg peak phenomenon, energy acts intensively at deep points in cancer tissue and strongly destroys cancer cells..
■ Advantages of heavy ion therapy
Powerful cancer cell destruction power
DNAThe treatment effect is great by directly cutting the.
Minimize normal tissue damage
Beneficial for elderly people or patients with underlying diseases.
short treatment period
1~2main, approximately 10Treatment is possible inside or outside the session.
Alternative for cancer where surgery is difficult
brain tumor, spinal tumor, It is used in various diseases such as recurrent cancer..
Effective against radiation-resistant cancer
existing XIt can also be applied to cancers that do not respond well to line treatment..
■ Cancers reported to be effective
sarcoma
pancreatic cancer
lung cancer
prostate cancer
head and neck cancer
vertebrae·basal tumor
recurrent cancer
It is evaluated as an important option that can complement the limitations of existing treatments..
■ Treatment process
MRI·CT Precise imaging tests such as
3D Create a personalized treatment plan
Heavy particle beam irradiation(1About 20~30minute)
Recovery and Progress Monitoring
The treatment process is painless and is mostly performed as an outpatient..
■ Cost and practical limitations
1The cost per session is very high and the number of facilities in operation in Korea is limited..
Health insurance coverage is narrow in Japan·There is a steady stream of patients visiting hospitals overseas, including in Germany..
Expansion of treatment centers and improvement of insurance coverage are also being discussed in Korea..
■ Expert perspective
The field of radiation oncology “Heavy ion therapy is a technology that is completely different from existing radiation therapy.”He said “It can be an important alternative for patients in whom surgery is difficult or who have a high risk of recurrence.”I rate it highly.
■ Conclusion
Heavy ion therapy is attracting attention as an innovative technology that can change the cancer treatment paradigm..
However, improvements in cost and accessibility are required., Treatment decisions require thorough consultation with a specialist..
Insurance and finance reporter Kim Nam-hee
