Visiting Tsukuba University Hospital (2016-3-14 to 2016-3-25).
In Tsukuba University Hospital, I visited the facilities of proton therapy, which is an advanced radiation technique. Prof. Sakurai gave me a brief introduction of the current status in the department of radiation oncology in Tsukuba University. Prof. Sakae taught me the physical aspects of proton therapy and, moreover, he showed me around in the treatment room. First, he led me to visit the synchrotron, which is a particular type of cyclic particle accelerator, descended from the cyclotron, in which the guiding magnetic field (bending the particles into a closed path) is time-dependent, being synchronized to a particle beam of increasing kinetic energy. I was amazed at the sophisticated and huge machine. Then Prof. Sakae invited me for a lunch and therefore I knew that there is one cafeteria in the hospital. Prof. Tsuboi gave me a talk about biological characteristics of proton therapy so that I understood the difference in biologic effects between proton beam and photon beam. I really appreciated the instruction of the three professors to me.
In addition to proton therapy facility, I also visited the process of hyperthermia therapy, which may make some cancer cells more sensitive to radiation or harm other cancer cells that radiation cannot damage. When hyperthermia and radiation therapy are combined, they are often given within an hour of each other. Hyperthermia can also enhance the effects of certain anticancer drugs. I see two patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer receiving hyperthermia combined with proton therapy. I only heard and read about hyperthermia from textbooks because hyperthermia is not available in my hospital. This time, I had the chance to visit the procedure of hyperthermia with my own eyes and it really inspired me.
There were morning meetings on weekdays. Although I could not understand all of their discussion because of limitation of language, I still felt that every doctor tried to give those patients the most appropriate treatment. And I would like to thank two medical physicists for their translation so that I can understand what they were talking about.
Finally, I want to thank everyone who has helped me in the Tsukuba University. I really experienced a great visiting and learned a lot of knowledge of radiation oncology.
Chun-Ming Huang