Cancer in Thailand and Proton
Therapy
Cancer is the leading cause of death
in Thailand and is among the top causes of death worldwide. The five most
common types of cancer in Thailand are liver and bile duct cancer, lung cancer,
breast cancer, cervical cancer, and leukemia, according to the National Cancer
Institute's statistics in 2024. Annually, approximately 140,000 new cancer
cases are diagnosed, and around 83,000 people succumb to the disease.
Radiation therapy has been a
continuously evolving treatment for cancer patients. Proton therapy, a
highly effective and less invasive treatment option, is now available. King Chulalongkorn
Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, initiated preparations for this
service in 2014. This marked the first proton therapy center in Thailand and
Southeast Asia. The center was graciously named "Her Royal Highness
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Proton Center" by Her Royal Highness
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Her Royal Highness has been a strong supporter
of this initiative and recognizes the importance of comprehensive cancer care
in Thailand, aiming to elevate the standards of cancer treatment to be more
effective, safer, and aligned with international standards.
Protons, obtained from a cyclotron
particle accelerator, can be precisely directed to target cancer cells more
accurately than conventional radiation. This minimizes radiation exposure to
surrounding healthy tissues, both in front of and behind the tumor, resulting
in fewer side effects. Proton
therapy is particularly suitable for treating cancers located near critical
organs or organs that are sensitive to radiation, such as tumors at the base of
the skull, sinuses, or liver. This innovative treatment can be administered to patients of
all ages, especially children, as excessive radiation exposure to surrounding
healthy tissues during conventional radiation therapy can adversely affect a
child's growth and development.
On 20th June 2019, Her
Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the installation
of the cyclotron at the "Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn Proton Center". Since August 2021, the center has been providing treatment
to patients since its opening, with a total of over 865 patients treated to
date (as of May 31, 2024). The top three
most common types of cancer treated at the center are liver cancer, head and
neck cancer, and brain cancer. 90% of the patients are Thai, while the remaining
10% are international patients.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha
Chakri Sirindhorn Proton Center at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai
Red Cross Society, represents a significant advancement in cancer treatment
technology in Thailand and the ASEAN region. The hospital aspires to establish
this center as a model for proton therapy in Southeast Asia, providing the best
and most accessible treatment for all patients.
Proton
therapy offers significant advantages in cancer treatment. Supported by
numerous research studies, it is considered a highly effective and safe
treatment option, with its applications spanning a wide range of cancer types.
Based
on the ASTRO Model Policies 2017 and JASTRO 2017, cancer types that have demonstrated
benefits from proton therapy can be categorized into two groups:
1.
Cancer types with established benefits of proton therapy:
2.
Cancer types with ongoing studies to confirm the benefits of proton therapy: