Particle Therapy
Proton & Carbon-Ion Therapy
Mature clinical use · approx. RMB 310,000 avg.
Typical Duration
Approx. 6–8 weeks
Estimated Cost
Est. from USD 40,000 / course
Based on the published fee schedule of the Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center (approx. CNY 278,000 per treatment course); imaging, simulation, admission and multi-course combinations are quoted separately in writing by the hospital.
Why China
Proton & Carbon-Ion Therapy
01A globally leading particle-therapy center by annual volume
By May 2026 the Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center (SPHIC) had discharged more than 9,300 particle-therapy patients, with 16.2% average annual growth and over 1,000 treatments per year for five consecutive years (2021–2025) — ranking first worldwide among particle centers. It covers more than 50 tumor types including nasopharyngeal, lung, liver and prostate cancers, and in 2017 became the world’s first JCI-accredited proton and heavy-ion center.
02Survival outcomes published internationally
SPHIC’s tenth-anniversary survival report shows an overall 5-year survival rate of 70.4% (83.8% for stages 0–I and 82.1% for stage II), with grade 3–4 adverse reactions at only 4.2% and 0.5%. Disease-specific 5-year survival: 93.8% for newly treated nasopharyngeal carcinoma, 97.2% for localized prostate cancer, 97.3% for breast cancer, 73.8% for stage I NSCLC, and 62.5% for inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma with 90.2% local control.
03Domestically developed systems entering clinical use
The first domestically developed proton therapy system has entered clinical service at Ruijin Hospital, while the Lanzhou and Wuwei carbon-ion centers have operated for years — steadily improving equipment availability and cost structures in China.
04Integrated multimodality strategies
Major centers integrate particle therapy with immunotherapy, targeted therapy and conversion strategies, offering multidisciplinary plans for locally advanced and oligometastatic disease.
Quick Overview
Care Journey
01
Case Review
Submit your records and imaging; receive a written expert assessment and preliminary plan within 48 hours.
02
Plan & Estimate
A multidisciplinary team (MDT) defines your individualized treatment plan with a transparent cost estimate.
03
Travel Preparation
We assist with medical visa, flights and accommodation, and assign a professional medical interpreter.
04
In-Hospital Care
A dedicated coordinator accompanies you through examinations and treatment, bridging all communication.
05
Recovery & Follow-up
Remote follow-up after you return home, with review schedules and medication guidance.
06
Long-term Management
Stay connected with your treating team, with fast-track return visits whenever needed.
Medical Team
Hospitals
Cancer Hospital, CAMS (National Cancer Center)
Beijing · Grade III-A · National Cancer Center
Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
Shanghai · Grade III-A · National Regional Cancer Center
Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
Guangzhou · Grade III-A · Host of State Key Laboratory
Peking University Cancer Hospital
Beijing · Grade III-A · MOE Key Laboratory
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between proton and carbon-ion therapy?+
Both exploit the Bragg peak to concentrate dose in the tumor and spare normal tissue. Protons suit most indications requiring high-precision radiotherapy; carbon ions have higher relative biological effectiveness, offering advantages for radio-resistant tumors (e.g. some sarcomas, hypoxic tumors) and lesions adjacent to critical organs, with fewer fractions but higher technical demands.
Which cancers benefit most from particle therapy?+
Key candidates include head-and-neck tumors such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma, early and locally advanced NSCLC, inoperable liver cancer, prostate cancer, skull-base chordoma and chondrosarcoma, pediatric tumors, and lesions abutting critical structures such as the spinal cord or optic nerve. Suitability is determined by the particle center’s MDT.
How long is a course? Is admission required?+
Typical regimens deliver 16–32 fractions, five per week over 4–7 weeks; with simulation and planning the full stay is about 6–8 weeks. Most patients are treated as outpatients with 15–30 minute daily sessions; short admission may be advised for combined therapy or frail patients.
Are side effects milder than conventional radiotherapy?+
Thanks to the Bragg peak, doses to surrounding normal tissue are markedly reduced, and rates of moderate-to-severe reactions such as dry mouth, dysphagia, radiation pneumonitis or enteritis are usually lower than with photon therapy. Skin reactions, fatigue and site-specific effects can still occur and are managed by the radiotherapy team.
What does it cost? Can international insurance be used?+
At SPHIC Shanghai, the published treatment fee is about CNY 278,000 per course; with imaging, simulation and admission the total budget is typically CNY 320,000–450,000. The center has direct-billing arrangements with multiple international insurers, and we can help complete pre-authorization (GOP) and cost confirmation before travel.
Can children receive proton therapy?+
Yes — children are among the most important beneficiaries, as proton therapy markedly reduces dose to developing organs and lowers second-malignancy risk. Pediatric treatment requires anesthesia and sedation support, which major centers provide.
Will my body remain radioactive after treatment?+
No. Proton and carbon-ion therapy are external-beam treatments: radiation is generated outside the body and passes through it without remaining. After a session your body carries no radioactivity — normal contact, shared living and (where applicable) breastfeeding are unaffected.
How soon after treatment can I take an international flight?+
There is no universal timeframe — the treating team assesses the irradiated site, acute reactions, blood counts, thrombosis risk and flight duration. Outpatients completing the full course without grade ≥3 acute reactions can usually be evaluated for return travel 1–2 weeks after the final fraction; we arrange the pre-departure review and an English treatment summary.
Detailed Information
Indications and how it works
Proton and carbon-ion beams release energy in a “Bragg peak”: low entrance dose, a concentrated dose at the tumor, and virtually no exit dose. This physics allows higher tumor doses while sparing surrounding tissue. Carbon ions have a relative biological effectiveness (RBE) about 2–3 times that of photons, delivering stronger killing of radio-resistant tumors.
Major indications include head-and-neck tumors (nasopharyngeal carcinoma, skull-base chordoma/chondrosarcoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma), thoracic tumors (early and locally advanced NSCLC), abdominal and pelvic tumors (unresectable liver cancer, prostate cancer, boost irradiation for pancreatic cancer), pediatric tumors, and re-irradiation of selected recurrent tumors.
Major treatment centers
China has developed a particle-therapy landscape led by Shanghai with multiple cooperating centers. The following summarizes the main resources we coordinate for international patients (subject to each center’s latest published information).
| Center | City | Configuration | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center | Shanghai | Proton + carbon ion, pencil-beam scanning | 10,000+ cumulative cases, mature international patient services, broad direct-billing network |
| Ruijin Hospital domestic proton system | Shanghai | First domestically developed proton system | Improved cost structure from localization, backed by a comprehensive tertiary hospital |
| Lanzhou / Wuwei carbon-ion centers | Gansu | Domestically developed carbon-ion systems | Among the longest-operating domestic carbon-ion centers |
Treatment process and timeline
Weeks 1–2: immobilization devices, 4D CT/MRI simulation, target contouring and plan design with physics dose verification. From week 3: daily fractions five days per week, 16–32 sessions depending on the protocol. Weekly blood counts and imaging reviews during treatment, with the radiotherapy team managing acute reactions throughout.
Cost structure and insurance
Costs consist of the treatment fee (per course), simulation and planning, imaging and laboratory work, inpatient or apartment accommodation, and interpreting/coordination services. At SPHIC the published treatment fee is about CNY 278,000 per course. Many international insurers cover part or all of the cost, and direct billing requires advance pre-authorization. Before travel we help obtain a written hospital estimate and confirm coverage with your insurer.
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