Proton Therapy for Children
Mature clinical use · Pediatric anesthesia team
Typical Duration
Approx. 4–7 weeks (daily sessions)
Estimated Cost
Est. USD 40,000–55,000
Course-based pricing at the national particle center, far below US/Japan/EU proton centers. Anesthesia sessions for young children quoted separately.
Why China
Proton Therapy for Children
Spare growing bodies
Proton beams stop at the tumor with virtually no exit dose — critical for children, whose developing brains, spines and organs are far more sensitive to radiation than adults'.
A flagship dual-modality center
Shanghai's proton & heavy-ion center — China's first — has treated 10,000+ patients and operates dedicated pediatric protocols with anesthesia support for young children.
Pediatric anesthesia & immobilization
Daily anesthesia teams, custom immobilization and child-life preparation make weeks of daily treatment feasible even for toddlers.
Fraction of Western proton pricing
A full pediatric course averages around RMB 278,000 — dramatically below proton centers in the US, Japan or Europe, with the same class of equipment.
Quick Overview
Care Journey
Case Review
Submit your records and imaging; receive a written expert assessment and preliminary plan within 48 hours.
Plan & Estimate
A multidisciplinary team (MDT) defines your child's individualized plan with a transparent cost estimate.
Travel Preparation
We assist with medical visas, flights and accommodation, and assign a professional medical interpreter.
In-Hospital Care
A dedicated coordinator accompanies your family through examinations and treatment, bridging all communication.
Recovery & Follow-up
Remote follow-up after you return home, with review schedules and medication guidance.
Long-term Management
Stay connected with your child's treating team, with fast-track return visits whenever needed.
Medical Team
Hospitals
Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University
Beijing · National Children's Medical Center
Children's Hospital of Fudan University
Shanghai · National Children's Medical Center
Shanghai Children's Medical Center, SJTU
Shanghai · National Children's Medical Center
Xinhua Hospital, SJTU School of Medicine
Shanghai · Grade-A Tertiary · Pediatric Flagship
Specialists
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do children benefit more from protons than adults?+
Children's developing tissues are highly radiation-sensitive. Protons deposit dose precisely in the tumor with no exit dose, reducing secondary cancer risk, growth impairment and cognitive effects — advantages that matter most in young patients.
Which pediatric tumors are treated?+
Medulloblastoma, ependymoma and other brain tumors; rhabdomyosarcoma; Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma near the spine or skull base; and selected neuroblastoma cases. The particle center MDT confirms suitability after reviewing imaging.
How does a 3-year-old stay still for daily treatment?+
A dedicated pediatric anesthesia team provides daily sedation with child-sized monitoring, plus custom immobilization masks and child-life preparation — making multi-week courses routine even for toddlers.
How long is a course and what does it cost?+
Most courses run 4–7 weeks of once-daily sessions (Monday–Friday). Average course cost is around RMB 278,000 (≈USD 40,000) — a fraction of Western proton centers. Anesthesia and imaging are quoted separately.
Can proton therapy be combined with chemotherapy?+
Yes — many pediatric protocols integrate chemotherapy or surgery. Your child's oncologist and the particle center jointly sequence the plan; we coordinate records between the teams.
Detailed Information
Pediatric indications
| Tumor type | Why protons help | Typical course |
|---|---|---|
| Medulloblastoma / ependymoma | Spares developing brain & spine; lower cognitive risk | 5–6 weeks |
| Rhabdomyosarcoma (head/neck, pelvis) | Protects eyes, salivary glands, bladder and bowel | 5–6 weeks |
| Ewing / osteosarcoma (spine, skull base) | High dose next to cord with sharp fall-off | 6–7 weeks |
| Selected neuroblastoma & retinoblastoma | Organ preservation adjacent to critical structures | 3–5 weeks |
Planning & simulation
- Multimodal simulation: CT + MRI fusion with child-specific immobilization masks.
- Radiation oncologists, physicists and pediatric anesthesiologists co-design the plan.
- Plan verification scans before the first fraction; weekly review imaging thereafter.
Course & timeline
- Week 1: arrival work-up, simulation, mask fitting and plan verification.
- Weeks 2–7: once-daily fractions Monday–Friday, each 30–60 minutes including anesthesia.
- Weekly tolerance reviews with the pediatric team; end-of-course imaging and summary report.
Outcomes & follow-up
- The center publishes survival reports: overall 5-year survival 70.4% across all particle patients; 93.8% for treatment-naive nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
- Bilingual end-of-treatment summary for home physicians, with remote review at 3, 6 and 12 months.
Cohort statistics do not constitute a promise of individual outcomes.
Related Therapies
Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy for Retinoblastoma
DiagnosticsPediatric Precision Imaging
