Terence Sio, a highly respected doctor and professor of radiation oncology, became, at the age of 38, one of the youngest faculty members to receive tenure — a permanent academic appointment that ensures stability and academic freedom — in the history of the Mayo Clinic – College of Medicine and Science in the United States. With a specialization in advanced proton therapy techniques, he has brought hope to countless cancer patients. Yet the guiding light that led him to the top of the medical field lies far beyond the Pacific; it lies in his “roots”: Macau.
At the age of 15, Terence and his family emigrated to the United States. Before that, his entire world had been Macau. He grew up in a middle-class family; his father managed a knitwear factory, and his mother was a homemaker. They lived together in an apartment on Rua do Padre António Roliz.
“My parents left their homeland because of us, the children,” he explains to PLATAFORMA. Life in the U.S. was difficult at the beginning: “At one point, fifteen people lived in a 90-square-meter apartment, which caused many arguments.” For the 15-year-old, adapting to a new reality was an arduous struggle. “My English was so poor that I cried; I felt lost and cynical.” But that experience awakened an inner strength: “I want to succeed; I want to overcome this obstacle!” With that determination, he transformed despair into motivation and was eventually admitted to one of the best universities in the world — MIT.
Asked what led him to pursue medicine, Terence recalls a decisive moment during the immigration process: “I remember that when we moved, I came across my father’s medical records from Kiang Wu Hospital and discovered that he suffered from chronic hepatitis B.” That discovery made him realise he could use his analytical mind, oriented toward mathematics and science, to help ordinary people face illness and death. “I realised I could use science to help anyone,” he says.
After choosing medicine, he focused on cancer patients. He believes that from the moment a patient receives the diagnosis, they are already a “cancer survivor. My mission is to have the knowledge, the skills, and the commitment necessary for patients to trust me, so I can take their hand throughout this journey.”
“I don’t just save one life; I may save the life of their spouse, of their children… I give them more time to live and enjoy life,” he explains.
Linking healthcare and tourism
When asked how close humanity is to defeating cancer, his answer is surprisingly optimistic: “In fact, we’ve already defeated it!” Thanks to advances in precision therapy, more than 70% of cancer patients today can be cured.
Currently, Dr. Sio focuses on treating gastrointestinal, lung, and brain cancers, including the use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to treat brain metastases.
As a specialist in proton therapy, he has high hopes of seeing this technology introduced in Macau. “The development of proton therapy in Asia is very fast — Taiwan, mainland China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore already have it.” And as the technology becomes more widespread, costs decrease: “In the past, building a proton center cost around 200 million dollars (about 160 million patacas), but now, with more flexible ‘mini-proton’ equipment, the initial investment can be only around 40 million dollars (about 30 million patacas).”
When questioned about whether Macau would have a large enough market for such technology, given its small population, he answers with conviction: “Of course there is a market, because we’re not only looking at Macau. With excellent equipment, the public it serves extends far beyond local residents,” he explains to PLATAFORMA. He then adds a broader vision: “We can link the health industry with medical tourism to serve the entire Greater Bay Area. Macau has all the conditions to do so.”
“If the local population and medical tourists together total more than a million people, it’s possible to sustain a proton therapy center. Moreover, with an ageing population, there will be more cancer cases, which will require more treatment opportunities,” he concludes.
Training local talent
One of the greatest achievements of Dr. Sio’s career was leading a team that established a proton research center in Hong Kong. “It was a very moving moment; it is without doubt the greatest pride of my life — leaving a mark on the history of proton therapy in Hong Kong.”
In addition to introducing cutting-edge technology, the professor highlights the importance of training new talent and urges society to reflect on how to prepare the next generation and take Macau’s healthcare system “to a new level.” Regarding his ambition to see Macau become a center of medical excellence, Dr. Sio stresses that healthcare institutions must be able to attract the best professionals, and that leaders need a clear vision. Drawing from his experience, he emphasizes: “Medical management must focus on quality. Every step needs standard operating procedures (SOP), and it is essential to train healthcare professionals with a spirit of service to Macau.”
