Specialties:

• Image-Guided Helical TomoTherapy (TomoTherapy)
• Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
• Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)
• Genitourinary cancers: prostate cancer and bladder cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Lymphoma
• Brain tumors
• Bone metastases
• Brain metastases
• Postoperative radiotherapy for keloids
• Radiotherapy for degenerative osteoarthritis

For patients with prostate cancer, achieving the optimal balance between "complete tumor eradication" and "preserving quality of life" has long been a central focus of outpatient consultations. Historically, patients had to choose among challenging options: undergoing prolonged conventional radiotherapy that required frequent hospital visits over two months, facing the anesthesia risks and substantial out-of-pocket expenses associated with radical surgery, or bearing the hefty self-paid costs of advanced stereotactic radiotherapy.

Today, a major breakthrough has resolved this clinical dilemma. Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) officially announced that, effective April 1, 2026, precise Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) is included under National Health Insurance (NHI) coverage, with newly approved indications for low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer. Eligible patients can now receive an internationally standardized, ultrahypofractionated precision radiotherapy requiring only five treatment sessions. This milestone policy spares patients from previous out-of-pocket costs exceeding NT$200,000, bringing immense relief and benefit to both patients and their families.

International Evidence and FEMH’s Clinical Experience Confirm Safety and Efficacy

The foundation of this new reimbursement policy rests primarily on the five-year follow-up results of the PACE-B trial published in 2024. This landmark study demonstrated that SBRT, delivered in just five sessions, achieved an outstanding biochemical recurrence-free survival rate of 95.8%. Its curative efficacy and disease control were proven comparable to conventional long-course radiotherapy lasting nearly two months.

In addition to robust international evidence, local clinical experience in Taiwan has yielded equally encouraging outcomes. Since 2024, the Department of Radiation Oncology at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital (FEMH) has actively implemented SBRT for prostate cancer, accumulating successful treatment experience with more than 100 patients. These clinical findings were presented at the 2025 Taiwan Joint Cancer Conference, receiving high acclaim from the medical community. Preliminary follow-up results demonstrated:

• Excellent treatment efficacy: All patients experienced significant and sustained declines in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels during follow-up, indicating highly effective tumor control.
• Outstanding safety profile: No patients experienced Grade 3 or higher severe adverse events during treatment, and none required treatment interruption due to intolerance.
• Rapid resolution of acute side effects: Only a small fraction of patients (approximately 4.3%) developed Grade 2 acute urinary or rectal symptoms—such as urinary frequency, nocturia, or mild dysuria—during treatment. Most of these symptoms resolved completely within two weeks to one month post-therapy, leaving no long-term sequelae.

A New Era of Green Healthcare: Taiwan’s First Carbon-Footprint-Certified Ultrahypofractionated Radiotherapy Course

While pursuing frontiers in precision medicine, FEMH has also pioneered the integration of environmental sustainability into clinical practice. Conventional radiotherapy for prostate cancer typically spans approximately eight weeks, requiring patients to commute to the hospital for up to 39 sessions. This results in substantial transportation-related carbon emissions and high energy consumption from prolonged medical equipment operation.

Through SBRT technology, the treatment course is condensed into just five sessions. This not only significantly eases the burden of repetitive hospital visits for patients but also reduces commuting frequency by 87.5%, establishing a landmark model for low-carbon radiotherapy.

• International carbon-footprint certification: This innovative radiotherapy model has received third-party carbon-footprint certification from an internationally recognized organization, making FEMH a pioneer in Taiwan’s low-carbon oncology field. These research findings were also accepted for poster presentation at the American Society for Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting.
• Remarkable, measurable carbon reduction: Compared with conventional radiotherapy, SBRT reduces the carbon emissions associated with each patient's treatment by 59.1%. In 2025 alone, the 81 completed treatment courses at FEMH collectively reduced carbon emissions by 4,203.9 kg, successfully aligning high-quality clinical care with environmental sustainability.

Forward-Looking Academic Perspectives and the Vital Importance of Early Screening

Although current NHI coverage is primarily designated for low- and intermediate-risk patients, several landmark international trials—including PACE-C, PACE NODES, and STAMPEDE—alongside clinical evidence from FEMH, suggest that SBRT also delivers favorable local control and safety for patients with high-risk disease, lymph node metastases, or distant metastases. While these advanced indications are not yet fully covered by NHI, patients are encouraged to discuss integrated, personalized treatment planning with their medical teams alongside standard therapies.

These clinical developments further underscore the importance of "early screening and early diagnosis." Detecting prostate cancer at a low- or intermediate-risk stage not only optimizes treatment outcomes and long-term prognosis, but also enables patients to qualify for NHI coverage, drastically reducing their financial burden. Men aged 50 years or older, or those aged 45 years or older with a family history of prostate cancer, are strongly encouraged to undergo annual PSA blood testing and digital rectal examinations by a urologist.

For patients diagnosed with prostate cancer, the clinical team at FEMH—backed by NHI reimbursement and a proven track record of over 100 successful cases—stands ready to provide a safe, noninvasive, and anesthesia-free precision treatment option that minimizes disruption to daily life and work. Patients are welcome to visit the Department of Radiation Oncology at FEMH for a comprehensive evaluation and professional consultation.