Cancer patients can get advanced radiation treatment in Taiwan rather than going abroad for it, the Chung Shan Medical University Hospital (中山醫學院附設醫院) in Taichung said yesterday.
The hospital introduced "intensity modulation radiotherapy" (IMRT) technology to the public yesterday. The launch came on the heels of official recognition of the treatment last week in the form of a 2001 National Biotechnology and Medical Care Award.
The award was given by the National Biotechnology and Medical Care Development Committee, of which the nation's president, Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), is honorary president.
IMRT uses computers to improve radiation delivery and is considered one of the most significant advances in radiation oncology in decades. The system assesses millions of possible beam arrangements to design an optimized treatment plan.
Rather than delivering a single, large, uniform beam of radiation, as with the traditional treatment, IMRT breaks the radiation into many small beams that can vary in intensity.
By attacking the tumor with multiple beams of deadly radiation, a physician can deliver a relatively uniform dose of radiotherapy to affected areas while protecting healthy tissue nearby.
IMRT therefore allows the delivery of more cancer-killing radiation with fewer adverse side effects on healthy tissue and organs -- and even healthy tissue within organs.
The technique was developed in the US and first applied clinically in 1995.
"Our hospital introduced the technique to Taiwan, prepared training programs and began to plan Taiwan's first IMRT center three years ago," said James Li (李必忍), the hospital's director of radiation oncology. The center treated its first patient in August.
"Over 200 cancer sufferers [in Taiwan], with tumors in various parts of the body, have been successfully treated with IMRT," Li said. He said IMRT reduced the side effects of radiation treatment. "It's especially useful in treating neck and head cancers without the side effect of reducing a patient's saliva secretions due to the impairment of the tissue surrounding the tumor" -- a problem with older techniques.
IMRT is covered by the National Health Insurance Program, according to officials.
Li said the treatment is now available at several other hospitals, including the Chang Gung Memorial (長庚) and the Veterans General (榮總).
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS