Medipolis

“Medipolis Ibusuki” is a healthcare and resort complex that aims to promote “Happier Medicine” to the world through cooperation among government, industry, and academia. The facility is located on a hilltop in the southern Japanese city of Ibusuki, which is famous for its hot spring resorts and generous hospitality. Medipolis covers over 1 million m2 and contains the Medipolis Proton Therapy and Research Center, Ibusuki Bay Hills Hotel & Spa, a number of sports facilities, our organic garden, and lots of untouched nature that make it the perfect place to relax.

Medipolis Proton Therapy and Research Center

Medipolis Proton Therapy and Research Center launched proton beam cancer treatment in January 2011. We aim to contribute to improving the quality of life of cancer patients all around the world as much as possible through practicing fundamental and low-impact cancer treatment using proton therapy. The Medipolis Proton Therapy and Research Center (MPTRC), is part of Medipolis Ibusuki, a project developed jointly by the government, industry, and academia in Ibusuki, a city located in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The aim of Medipolis Ibusuki is to share cutting-edge medical knowledge with the rest of the world while offering holistic treatment that aims to support every aspect of our patient’s recovery in a setting that is among the best of Japan’s hot spring resorts with hotels and sports facilities. MPTRC, the core medical facility of Medipolis Ibusuki, first offered proton beam therapy for people with cancer in 2011.

Location: Kagoshima, Japan

Type of City: Resort

Facility: Proton Beam Therapy

In Operation: June 2007

Advantages of Facility: 

• Stay in a resort area during treatment

Treatment period: 

3 – 4 weeks

Process before the visit:

• Qualification by Taqtik Health
• Medical Record
• Qualification by the center
• Trip Preparation

World-Class Care and Experts

MPTRC has now treated more than 1,500 cancer patients, most of whom are Japanese. Recently, however, the Center has begun to admit more people from overseas, including China and Russia. In September 2013, MPTRC was the first proton therapy facility in Japan to be accredited 5. by Joint Commission International (www. jointcommissioninternational.org). This recognition of the quality and safety of the services at MPTRC supports the center’s aim of offering patient-friendly proton beam therapy and traditional Japanese hospitality, or Omotenashi, to people with cancer worldwide.

Facilities

• Gantry Irradiation Rooms (3 rooms) – The Gantry is a device for focusing the proton beam. The 180-ton device rotates 360 degrees around the patient and can deliver the proton beam from any direction.
• Synchrotron – This is a donut-shaped device that accelerates the proton beams to about 2/3 (or 70%) the speed of light.
• Operation / Control Room – The room where the technologists control the proton beam
• Pre-treatment & Diagnostic Room. This is where the medical staff confirms the exact location of cancer before the beginning of treatment.

Types of cancers with good outcomes

• Prostate cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Lung cancer
• Liver cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Head and Neck cancer
• Bone and Soft tissue cancer

Proton therapy is highly effective when the tumor is solid, well-defined, localized, and non-metastasized. MPTRC provides proton therapy for cancers of the prostate, lung, liver, bile duct, pancreas, head and neck, esophagus, and more. A team at MPTRC has been developing expertise in cancer and is currently focusing on breast cancer. Proton therapy offers no benefit for gastrointestinal or blood cancer. Length of treatment depends on the type, size, and position of the cancer – it takes 5.5 weeks for prostate cancer and 2 weeks for localized lung cancer, both after a week of preparation (this includes medical examinations, creation of a treatment plan, and treatment simulation).

• Languages : English, Japanese,