When Korea May Not Be the Right Option
Korea offers treatment options for international cancer patients, including proton therapy and carbon-ion therapy. However, treatment in Korea is not appropriate for every patient.
In some cases, local care may be safer, faster, or more practical. Korea may not be the right option when:
- The patient is medically unfit to travel.
- The disease is progressing too rapidly for international travel or transfer.
- The patient requires urgent or continuous care that cannot be safely provided overseas.
- The expected benefit of treatment in Korea is very limited.
- The receiving hospital does not consider the case eligible for treatment.
In these situations, overseas treatment may not be the safest or most useful pathway. The more appropriate next step may be local oncology care, symptom control, palliative care, hospice support, or further discussion with the current treating physician.
Medical records should be reviewed before travel decisions are made.
APIS coordinates case review communication with Korean hospitals.
