The Heavy Ion Therapy Center of Zhejiang Cancer Hospital is located in Gongshu district, Hangzhou. [Photo/Tide News]

Zhejiang Cancer Hospital's highly anticipated Heavy Ion Therapy Center is set to open in Gongshu district, Hangzhou, on Feb 13.

With an investment of 1.15 billion yuan ($157.35 billion), the facility spans about 14,000 square meters across five floors within the hospital's Gongshu campus. It is Zhejiang's first comprehensive center integrating medical treatment, research, and education.

The centerpiece of the facility is a state-of-the-art heavy ion therapy system developed by the Institute of Modern Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This technology, known for its precision and safety, fills a critical gap in Zhejiang's oncology infrastructure and offers new hope for cancer patients.

Heavy ion therapy is highly effective in treating a wide range of solid tumors and can be used in cases where surgery is not possible or unsuitable when a patient is sensitive to conventional radiation therapy, or prone to relapse following such therapy. This includes tumors located in the central nervous system, head, neck, skull base, chest, and abdomen.