The new heavy ion therapy unit will integrate this method into routine clinical care. 1,000 patients a year will benefit from this new service. The total cost is in the vicinity of 142 million marks. It has been demonstrated beyond doubt that this technology is both safe and successful. The impressive results of this kind of radiation care for patients provide evidence supporting the hypothesis that heavy ion radiation is superior to traditional therapy.
Research also stands to gain.
The clinical studies bound up with the use of the new unit are expected to answer such questions as what kind of radiation or particle is most effective for different kinds of cancer. In addition, new insights are anticipated in connection with the optimum combination of operative methods, radiation and chemotherapy.