Balloon that can cut cancer side-effects

USING a balloon during radiotherapy for prostate cancer is being tested as a way to spare men damaging side-effects.

The balloon is positioned next to the prostate to prevent radiation reaching healthy tissues around the gland, such as the rectum. The idea is that doctors can then target higher doses of radiation directly at the prostate to kill the tumour more effectively.

In a new trial at the Urology Nevada clinic in the U.S., 222 patients undergoing radiotherapy will have the balloon inserted via a minimally invasive procedure under local anaesthetic. It will be inflated with saline to create a safe gap between the tumour and healthy tissue.