Doctors at the Taipei Medical University Hospital (TMUH) were cautiously optimistic about the cryotherapy technology the university imported last year to treat patients suffering from inoperable liver cancer.
TMUH is the only hospital in Taiwan using an argon-helium "knife," Huang Ming-de (黃銘德) said during a press conference at the hospital.
Since importing the machine in March last year, almost thirty patients have undergone the less-invasive treatment. Either in conjunction with traditional surgery or through "keyhole surgery" performed with a laparoscope, the argon-helium knife works by freezing the tumor with a blast of liquid argon-helium gas.
"We can destroy an area of up to 8cm in diameter, cooling the tumor to as much as minus 260oC," Huang said. "Once the knife is withdrawn, the tumor shatters upon exposure to body heat."
"It is not for everyone and it is not a miracle cure," he said. "But it is another item in our arsenal against liver cancer," adding that surgical excision is still the preferred treatment.
Seventy percent to 80 percent of lung cancer patients are ineligible for surgery, however, because of tumors that are too big or the presence of too many cancerous sites.
"Studies abroad seem to indicate that in suitable patients, cryoknife surgery might extend life by one year to 33 months," he said.
A point in favor of the therapy is that its intrusiveness is minimal, Huang said.
A 67-year-old woman whose breast cancer metastasized to her liver was able to leave the hospital the same day she received argon-helium knife therapy, he said.
"The woman refused an operation to remove the tumor on her liver because she had gone through so many surgeries and chemotherapy treatments already," Huang said. "But we were able to convince her to [try] cryotherapy."
The woman underwent the procedure three months ago, Huang said.
The treatment is not covered by the National Health Insurance and the woman had to pay NT$70,000 for the treatment, including anes-thesiology costs.
"It is too early to tell if the tumor will return," Huang said.
"But the patient's quality of life has increased and she was able to diminish use of chemotherapy medication and even go on a holiday to China," he said.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS