Fuda Cancer Hospital
Melanoma treatment cost in China is influenced by the disease stage and clinical approach, with essential treatments like wide excision of melanoma ranging from $4,500 to $9,500. Natural killer cell therapy costs between Price on request and Price on request for advanced cases. Patients can save approximately 60-80% compared to US prices. Leading medical hubs include Guangzhou, Beijing, and Xiamen.
Typical Melanoma Treatment Costs in China
Bookimed Expert Insight: Patients with advanced melanoma find high value in Guangzhou's multidisciplinary centers. Fuda Cancer Hospital is best for late-stage cases, offering NanoKnife and cryosurgery for complex tumors. For localized lesions, Jinshazhou Hospital provides expert ablation techniques under Director Liuying. High-tier Class 3A hospitals ensure JCI-accredited safety standards at most competitive rates. Specialized cellular therapies remain significantly more affordable here than in Western clinics.
| China | Turkey | Austria | |
| Mohs microsurgery | from $2,400 | from $2,200 | from $4,000 |
| Melanoma surgery | from $6,200 | from $3,500 | from $9,500 |
| Actinium-225 Therapy | from $13,800 | from $22,955 | from $55,000 |
| Immunotherapy with Keytruda (Pembolizumab) | from $6,200 | from $3,300 | from $15,000 |
| Wide excision of melanoma | from $4,500 | from $1,800 | - |
Chief physician and professor. Grade 1 Expert at the Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University (ranked No. 2 in China). Completed a postdoctoral fellowship in interventional radiology at the Chinese PLA General Hospital. Leads multidisciplinary team (MDT) care for complex tumors. Expert in minimally invasive interventional oncology for liver, lung, and pancreatic cancers.
Accreditations: Council Member, WATA. Member of CACA and CMDA committees on intervention, ablation, radioactive seeds, and pain. In 2023, inaugural director member, Palliative Care Committee, Sichuan MDA. Editorial board member of the Chinese Journal of Interventional Imaging and Therapy. Editorial board member of the Chinese Journal of Pain Medicine.
Leads 2 provincial S&T projects and 2 NSFC projects. Has 40+ papers, with 30+ as first or corresponding author. Highest impact factor: 10.73. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cohort: TACE + lenvatinib vs TACE + sorafenib. OS 18.97 vs 10.77 months. PFS 10.6 vs 5.4 months. ORR 66.8% vs 33.3%.
Dr. He Weibing is a pioneer of argon-helium cryoablation in China with more than 20 years of frontline practice. He was a founding member of Fuda Cancer Hospital (Guangzhou). He co-founded its Minimally Invasive Tumor Treatment Center and served as Executive Deputy Director. He also helped found the Ablation Group of the China Anti-Cancer Association. He has been the primary operator in more than 10,000 procedures.
He specializes in tumor cryoablation and is proficient in 125I seed brachytherapy, with a focus on liver and lung cancers. He proposed ten argon-helium techniques. Key co-authored data include: lung cryotherapy n=508; NSCLC n=120 (CR 25.5%, PR 41.8%, 6/12/24-month survival 64%/55%/36%); pancreatic cancer n=38 (median survival 12 months). He served on editorial boards in 2008 and 2010. He has been a national trainer for Varian and Boston Scientific since 2001.
Professor Luo Xiaoping is a nationally recognized interventional radiologist and a leading authority in Western China. He began pioneering vascular interventions in the early 1990s. He helped found the Interventional Group at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.
He has completed over 100,000 interventional procedures, including about 4,000 complex cases. His key skills include TACE for hepatocellular carcinoma, Budd–Chiari interventions, TIPS, and single-stage bilateral stenting for hilar biliary obstruction, with success rates near 100%. He has been a master’s supervisor since 2007. He has trained many physicians, guided complex cases at more than 40 major hospitals across Western China, and helped build interventional programs. He has published 32 papers as first or corresponding author (22 CSCD core, 4 Chinese core, 6 CSCD extended).
Professor Xiao Yueyong is Chief Physician in the Department of Radiological Diagnosis at the Chinese PLA General Hospital. He is a leading expert in minimally invasive interventional oncology. He serves as the inaugural President of WATA (2025–). He is President of the International (2020–) and Asian (2012–) Societies of Cryotherapy. He is also Deputy Head of the NHC Expert Group on tumour ablation regulations (2009–).
He has performed over 100,000 CT/MRI‑guided minimally invasive procedures. His work covers chemical ablation, RFA, MWA, cryoablation, and NanoKnife (IRE). He introduced and advanced NanoKnife ablation in China. He led the first national standards for tumour cryoablation and NanoKnife.
Honors include the National Special Contribution Award (Lifetime Honorary). He received First Prize from the Chinese Medicine Education Association (2021). He received two Second Prizes for Military Medical Achievements (2016, 2018) and two Second Prizes from the China Anti‑Cancer Association (2019, 2022). He was named Asian Ablation Master. His research record includes 13 Chinese patents. He is the principal investigator for four NSFC projects and one MOST subject. He has published over 200 papers, with over 110 as first or corresponding author and over 40 in SCI journals. He has led over 10 ablation guidelines or consensus statements.
Written by Veronika Kazina
China treats melanoma using surgery, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies. Specialized centers focus on aggressive acral and mucosal subtypes. JCI-accredited facilities like Fuda Cancer Hospital offer over 10 minimally invasive options. These include cryosurgery and NanoKnife technology for advanced cases.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Analysis of clinical availability suggests Guangzhou is a hub for specialized melanoma interventional oncology. Dr. Liuying at Jinshazhou Hospital specifically integrates microwave ablation with traditional oncology. This focus on thermal ablation offers an alternative for patients who cannot undergo standard surgical resection.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that seeking treatment at major tertiary hospitals ensures access to critical staging tools like sentinel lymph node biopsies. Many emphasize confirming genetic mutation status through reliable labs before starting targeted drug regimens.
Modern immunotherapy using PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors is widely available and clinically effective in China. Patients can access over 20 approved medications. These include global brands like Keytruda and domestic alternatives like Toripalimab. Studies show success rates comparable to international protocols.
Bookimed Expert Insight: China has specialized protocols for acral and mucosal melanoma, which are more common in Asian populations. JCI-accredited facilities often combine PD-1 inhibitors weight-based dosing with minimally invasive therapies like cryosurgery. This multidisciplinary approach can improve local tumor control where standard surgery alone might be insufficient.
Patient Consensus: Patients find that accessing domestic PD-1 inhibitors in major cities like Guangzhou is straightforward and significantly more affordable. Many emphasize the importance of upfront biomarker testing to ensure the chosen drug matches their specific cancer profile.
Melanoma in China primarily affects the palms, soles, and mucous membranes. This contrasts with Western populations where sun-exposure patterns dominate. Chinese patients often present at advanced stages. Genetic mutations like KIT and NRAS are more frequent than the BRAF mutations seen in Caucasians.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data from Fuda Cancer Hospital highlights a push for specialized minimally invasive therapies. They offer NanoKnife and microwave hyperthermia for late-stage cases. Dr. Liuying at Jinshazhou Hospital manages complex melanoma liver metastases using interventional ablation. This specialized focus on advanced-stage intervention mirrors the clinical reality of China’s later diagnosis patterns.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that acral melanoma on the hands or feet often goes ignored for years before confirmation. Experts recommend seeking evaluation at tertiary centers in major cities like Guangzhou to access advanced interventional oncology.
International patients can join melanoma clinical trials in China if they meet specific medical criteria. Chinese centers specialize in cellular therapies like Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) treatment. Global eligibility encompasses patients from over 100 countries. Participation requires detailed biopsy reports and scans showing measurable lesions.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Focus on Guangzhou academic centers where specialists like Dr. Liuying manage melanoma liver metastasis. These hospitals treat 30,000+ international patients annually and often combine standard immunotherapy with local interventions. Seeking trials directly through directors of oncology wards often bypasses the lack of centralized English-language recruitment databases.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is essential to ask about English protocols since documents are often only in Chinese. Clarifying long-term visa options early is vital because clinical trials require extended hospital stays.
Specialized melanoma care in China centers on JCI-accredited facilities in Guangzhou and Beijing. Hospitals like Fuda Cancer Hospital and Jinshazhou Hospital offer advanced minimally invasive treatments. These include NanoKnife and cryosurgery. Chinese oncology hubs integrate surgical resection with multidisciplinary immunotherapy and cell-based therapies.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Focus on Guangzhou clinics if you require non-surgical alternatives to chemotherapy. Fuda Cancer Hospital uses over 10 types of minimally invasive therapies. This is ideal for late-stage cases where traditional surgery is not possible. Dr. Liuying at Jinshazhou Hospital integrates microwave ablation specifically for metastatic melanoma spread. These specialized protocols are often more accessible in Guangzhou than in packed Beijing centers.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize the need for a bilingual concierge or translator when visiting public oncology centers. Many note that surgeon experience with specific mutations like BRAF+ is more important than hospital prestige.
Treatment protocols for acral and mucosal melanoma differ significantly from cutaneous disease in surgical margins and systemic response. While cutaneous types often respond to immunotherapy, acral and mucosal variants frequently require KIT-targeted therapies and specialized surgeries to preserve function in palms, soles, or mucosal membranes.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While Western protocols focus heavily on PD-1 inhibitors, Chinese JCI-accredited centers like Fuda Cancer Hospital utilize a multi-modal approach. Data shows they prioritize combining minimally invasive techniques like NanoKnife or cryosurgery with systemic treatments. This is particularly effective for mucosal melanomas in difficult-to-reach areas where traditional wide-margin surgery is physically impossible.
Patient Consensus: Patients with acral melanoma emphasize that finding a surgeon who prioritizes limb function is just as vital as clearing the cancer. Those treated for rare subtypes note that specialized molecular testing was the turning point in their treatment plan.
Advanced melanoma treatment in China utilizes immunotherapy, targeted drugs for specific genetic mutations, and advanced ablation techniques. Beyond surgery, patients access checkpoint inhibitors like Toripalimab and Pembrolizumab. Specialized centers integrate cryosurgery and NanoKnife technology. These options aim to manage metastatic cases and mucosal subtypes effectively.
Bookimed Expert Insight: China is a unique hub for combining traditional immunotherapy with advanced ablation. Fuda Cancer Hospital has treated over 30,000 patients using `3C` therapy (Cryosurgery, Cancer Microvascular Intervention, and Combined Immunotherapy). This approach often yields results for late-stage patients who have exhausted standard chemotherapy options elsewhere.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize getting genetic testing early to check for BRAF status. Some note that domestic immunotherapy options like Toripalimab can lead to long-term remission for Stage 4 cases.