Table of Contents
What to confirm before you travel
Every question below has a documentary answer. A center that will not put one in writing has told you something.
- That your specific diagnosis and stage have been reviewed, by name, and found eligible for particle therapy.
- Which system will treat you — the imported machine or the domestically built one — and why that one was chosen for your case.
- How many fractions your plan calls for, and what happens to the price if the plan changes mid-course.
- Whether the quote is treatment-only or includes hospitalization, imaging and nursing.
- The date the quote was issued and how long it is held for.
What to ask about the treating team
- Who reviews your case, and whether that review is multidisciplinary or a single radiation oncologist.
- Whether an interpreter is provided by the hospital or arranged by you.
- Who your named contact is once you arrive, and how to reach them outside clinic hours.
- What follow-up is expected after you return home, and who conducts it.
What is not covered, and what that costs you
The flat rate covers the treatment course, not the journey around it. Budget separately for the items below; several of them are recurring.
- Pre-treatment diagnostics: fresh scans, biopsies and staging work to confirm you are a candidate.
- Systemic treatment such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy, alongside or after radiation.
- Travel and visas for you and a companion, accommodation, and meals.
- A longer stay if complications arise.
Is proton therapy insured in China?
China's basic public insurance does not cover it. Some Shanghai-specific commercial plans can reimburse residents, but international patients should plan on self-paying in full.
Reviewed by Faizan Afzal
Data verified:
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