Rare News for Cancer Patients: Successful First Domestic Treatment with Particle Therapy for Dream Prostate Cancer Treatment.

The treatment of a prostate cancer patient who underwent the first domestic particle therapy in South Korea has successfully concluded. Yonsei Cancer Center recently announced that Mr. Choi (64), who was diagnosed with stage 2 prostate cancer and received particle therapy in April, had completely removed cancer tissue according to recent examinations.

 

Such a successful case provides a hopeful turning point in the field of cancer treatment, opening up wider possibilities for hope and treatment for cancer patients both domestically and internationally.

 

Mr. Choi first received suspicion of prostate cancer during a health checkup last year, and subsequent detailed examinations confirmed a stage 2 prostate cancer diagnosis. Prostate cancer is evaluated on a malignancy scale of 5 grades, and Mr. Choi's Gleason score was 3, indicating a high-risk category. Additionally, his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was elevated at 7.9 ng/mL compared to the normal range of 4 ng/mL.

 

Starting particle therapy at the end of April, Mr. Choi underwent a total of 12 treatments over the course of a month, receiving 3-4 treatments per week. By mid-May, he had completed all the treatments. As a result, his PSA level dropped to less than 0.01 ng/mL, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed no evidence of cancer tissue. Furthermore, there was no damage to surrounding organs due to particle therapy.

 

Particle therapy, known as the "dream cancer treatment," accelerates heavy carbon particles at the speed of light to destroy cancer cells without affecting normal tissues precisely. This therapy minimizes damage to nearby organs by inserting a special substance called "Space OAR" between the prostate and rectum. This substance shields the rectum from particle radiation, enhancing treatment safety by reducing the risk of complications such as organ damage, bleeding, and rectal bleeding.

 

Particle therapy has already been utilized for solid cancer treatment in countries like Japan and Germany and has been introduced for the first time in South Korea at Yonsei Cancer Center. To date, 82 individuals have received particle therapy, with 65 more awaiting treatment. Yonsei Cancer Center plans to introduce equipment for 360-degree rotation to examine particles at the end of the year, which is expected to enable the treatment of various types of cancer, including lung cancer, liver cancer, and pancreatic cancer.

 

Dr. Lee Ik-jae, the head of the Particle Therapy Center at Yonsei Cancer Center, expressed his delight, stating, "The treatment results of prostate cancer patients who received particle therapy for the first time in South Korea are very gratifying." He added, "We will continue to monitor patients' conditions and closely observe treatment progress."

 

Such a successful case provides a hopeful turning point in the field of cancer treatment, opening up wider possibilities for hope and treatment for cancer patients both domestically and internationally. Advances in cancer research and treatment technology offer new hope and the prospect of a better future for patients, offering them a chance for a brighter tomorrow.