Liver Cancer: Proton Therapy as Alternative to Major Surgery
A 64-year-old patient with stage II liver cancer preserved liver function with proton therapy at Shanghai instead of partial hepatectomy.
Tumor complete response at 6 months. Liver function preserved. We saved my life and a quarter-million dollars.
"I was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at 64. My Canadian oncologist recommended partial hepatectomy — surgical removal. But my liver function was borderline; surgery carried significant risk.
My oncologist mentioned proton therapy as a possible alternative but it wasn't covered in Canada and the closest centers were in the US, where treatment would cost upwards of $200,000.
SSAnkang's case manager understood proton therapy details (rare among medical tourism agencies). They proposed Shanghai, where the proton-and-heavy-ion center has treated HCC since 2014 with excellent local control rates.
Dr. Wang and the radiation oncology team designed a hypofractionated regimen — 8 sessions over 2 weeks. I walked into the treatment center for each session and walked out 90 minutes later feeling fine. By session 5, I had mild fatigue. That was the worst of it.
Three weeks total in Shanghai with my wife. Total cost: $52,000. At 6-month follow-up: tumor showed complete response on imaging. Liver function fully preserved."