The best existing cancer treatment method [C-ion therapy]

Carbon ion therapy is a type of radiation treatment that uses carbon ions, which are accelerated to be 12 times heavier than the hydrogen ions used in proton therapy, targeting and destroying only the tumor (cancer cells). It shows 2 to 3 times higher treatment effectiveness (biological effect, cell-killing ability) compared to conventional radiation therapy, and is called the "dream cancer treatment" to overcome intractable cancers.

Carbon ion therapy is the best existing cancer treatment method.

It is applied to pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, and prostate cancer.

It is said to have these advantages.

First, it is a treatment applicable to most types of cancer.

It has become possible to treat cancers that were difficult to treat with traditional methods such as surgery or radiation therapy through particle therapy. Currently, research is ongoing to expand the range of target cancers, and it is expected that the number of treatable cancers will continue to increase.

Secondly, it is a treatment method with significantly fewer side effects.

Heavy ion radiation has the characteristic of low radiation dose on the body's surface and maximum radiation dose within cancer tissues, known as the 'Bragg Peak.' By using a accelerator to control the energy and adjusting so that particles stop at the cancerous area, it has minimal impact on normal cells, resulting in significantly fewer side effects.

Third, it is a treatment method with a short treatment period, providing high convenience for patients.

In the case of conventional radiation therapy, an average of 25 sessions are performed, taking about a month to complete, but in the case of heavy ion therapy, an average of 12 sessions are performed. This is expected to significantly improve patient convenience. Additionally, it is anticipated that by 2030, the elderly population aged 65 and over will increase to more than twice the current number (25% of the total population), and accordingly, heavy ion therapy, which has a shorter and more convenient treatment period than surgery, is expected to expand for elderly cancer patients.

Yonsei Medical Center Pump