Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
A significant new study indicates that focal therapy, a less invasive treatment for prostate cancer, matches the effectiveness of traditional surgery or radiotherapy but with fewer side effects. This approach targets cancerous tissue using either high-intensity ultrasound or cryotherapy to freeze affected areas. The research, conducted over a decade by Imperial College London and involving nearly 3,500 patients, fills a previous gap in long-term evidence that has limited wider adoption of the therapy.
The study’s findings are striking: among men with intermediate to high-risk prostate cancer, only two deaths from the disease occurred within ten years post-treatment. These results align with those seen after surgery or radiotherapy but come with less than half the chance of experiencing side effects such as urinary leakage or sexual dysfunction. Professor Hashim Ahmed, consultant urologist at Imperial College London, emphasized that focal therapy provides “excellent long-term cancer control across a broad range of patients,” making a strong argument for expanding access to this treatment.
Despite its introduction over two decades ago, focal therapy remains underutilized in the UK, with only around 1,000 men receiving it annually even though up to 15,000 could potentially benefit. The treatment is suitable only for those whose cancer is confined to a single area within the prostate and has not spread beyond the gland. Patients like Rob Huxford, diagnosed in 2020, report excellent outcomes with no lasting side effects and express frustration that access is limited depending on geographic location. Campaigners and patients alike hope the new evidence will push for its broader availability to avoid what has been described as a “postcode lottery.”
Concerns about long-term survival and cancer recurrence had previously hindered regulatory approval and NHS-wide availability for focal therapy. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has not yet endorsed the treatment as routine due to historically limited long-term data, restricting NHS provision mainly to 10 centers in England, with none elsewhere in the UK. Nevertheless, the government recently pledged up to £2.8 million to expand access by establishing new focal therapy centers. Prostate Cancer UK and health officials have praised the therapy’s potential to reduce debilitating side effects and enhance future screening programs, underscoring that this research might transform treatment discussions and improve outcomes for thousands of men
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.