Specialist cancer team marks treatment for 1,000 patients
Hospital unit has been offering treatment for prostate cancer since 2006
A specialist form of prostate cancer treatment has been offered to a hospital unit’s 1,000th patient.
Radioactive seeds are inserted into a patient’s posterior and is only administered at a selected number of centres around the country, including Maidstone Hospital.
The site holds the country’s fourth largest cancer care centre and earlier this month David Richards officially became the landmark patient.
The 77-year-old from Tankerton, near Whitstable, was given a localised form of radiotherapy treatment known as brachytherapy – an established treatment for more than three decades.
Small radioactive seeds are put in the patient’s prostate to give a more targeted form of treatment with fewer side effects.
It targets the site of the tumour so the radiation kills the cancer cells and reduces damage to surrounding areas.
The procedure usually lasts
between 45 minutes to an hour and patients are allowed to go home afterwards.
The process would last across a number of months and almost no interference with everyday life.
The Kent Oncology Centre – part of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW)
– is one of the few places offering this treatment with its first patient receiving the low dose rate (LDR) radiation therapy in 2006.
David said: “Everything went as smooth as silk – a few days after the treatment I was back down my allotment and less than two weeks after the procedure it was like nothing had happened and I was totally back to normal.
“I’ve got nothing but praise and the NHS has done me proud. They are an excellent team at Maidstone and you can see how close-knit they are.
“I’m really lucky to have been born on the doorstep of one of the best centres in the UK.”
Philippa Moth, head of cancer services at MTW, said: “Being diagnosed with cancer can have such an impact on the lives of our patients and their families.
“It is really important that we are continuously developing our care, using innovative and established treatments which not only improve outcomes for our patients, but also improve their care experience.
“This is a fantastic milestone for the team to reach and demonstrates their vast experience with this specialist treatment.
“They’ve helped change the lives of so many people with their care and continue to ensure our patients are not only given quick access to treatment but are supported throughout their treatment.”
The Prostate Brachytherapy Team at the hospital now share their knowledge around Europe.
They work with centres including The Royal Marsden in London and others across Europe to help improve accesibility of the treatment for patients worldwide and train medical staff.