Planning proton and heavy-ion therapy in Shanghai
Use this SPHIC planning route to understand official cost, treatment duration, eligibility screening, and international-patient questions before traveling.
Information recorded Aug 15, 2026 · Planning information, not medical advice
Short answer
Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center publicly describes a single-course proton/heavy-ion radiotherapy fee of CNY 278,000 and an average total hospitalization cost around CNY 330,000. It reports average treatment of 19 irradiation sessions and a hospital stay of more than 30 days, but eligibility, timing, payment, and international insurance must be confirmed for each case.
Who this is for: International cancer patients or family members researching whether a Shanghai proton/heavy-ion evaluation is realistic before arranging travel.
Hospital-specific information
These facts document this route. They do not recommend a hospital, compare it with other hospitals, or guarantee availability.
Official proton and heavy-ion route
Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center上海市质子重离子医院
Included as the primary Shanghai proton/heavy-ion center. This page summarizes planning facts and does not assess clinical suitability.
- Radiotherapy course fee
SPHIC official materials describe a single-course proton/heavy-ion radiotherapy fee of CNY 278,000.
Confirmed in an official source
- Average total cost
SPHIC official materials describe average total hospitalization cost around CNY 330,000 including radiotherapy, hospital stay, tests, and nursing.
Confirmed in an official source
- Treatment duration
Official and authoritative sources report an average of 19 irradiation sessions, about 12 minutes per session, and average hospitalization of more than 30 days.
Confirmed in an official source
- Typical disease areas
Shanghai government and SPHIC sources describe key disease areas including nasopharyngeal cancer, intracranial and skull-base tumors, early lung cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and other selected tumors.
Confirmed in an official source
- Not always suitable
SPHIC FAQ materials indicate that non-solid tumors such as leukemia and cases with multiple distant metastases are not typical candidates; the evidence log also notes a child-age limitation that should be reconfirmed.
Confirmed in an official source
- Remote pre-review
SPHIC describes online consultation and case-material upload routes for preliminary assessment before coming to the hospital.
Confirmed in an official source
- International contact
Shanghai government English materials list service languages and an international phone route via 021-3829-6666 extension 51000 or 51001 during weekday office hours.
Confirmed in an official source
- Insurance and payment
SPHIC official materials describe domestic insurance and Huihuibao arrangements. Overseas insurance direct billing and foreign payment methods need case-specific confirmation.
Needs confirmation
Questions to confirm before booking
- 1
Based on the diagnosis, stage, metastasis status, and prior treatment, is proton or heavy-ion therapy medically realistic?
Not every cancer or stage is suitable for particle therapy.
- 2
Can SPHIC review English medical records remotely, or should they be translated before upload?
Remote screening is the safest first step before travel.
- 3
What is the current time from first review to consultation, admission, simulation, and treatment start?
A multi-week hospital stay can be workable only if the queue is understood.
- 4
What does the CNY 278,000 course fee include and exclude for this tumor type?
Tests, inpatient care, medications, and complication management may affect the total.
- 5
Can payment be made by international card or overseas transfer, and can my insurer issue a guarantee of payment?
The route is high-cost and payment logistics should be settled before travel.