Prostate cancer ultrasound may limit side effects

Phoebe Southworth PROSTATE CANCER sufferers could be treated with ultrasound to avoid the lifechanging side effects which can result from drugs or invasive surgery, a study has found.

Thousands of men whose cancer has recurred after radiotherapy could benefit from focal therapy, which is available on the NHS and involves ultrasound-generated heat projected into the body to target cancerous tissue without breaking the skin.

This could avoid potential side effects from some traditional treatments which include incontinence, diabetes and bowel damage.

In the largest study of its kind, researchers at Imperial College London found that of 356 men in the UK who were treated with focal therapy, three-quarters did not experience a progression in their illness in the following six years.

Meanwhile, less than one in 100 experienced significant complications.

The treatment could benefit 10,000 men in the UK with recurrent prostate cancer and a further 12,000 cases at an early stage.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in England, with almost 50,000 registered cases in 2018. Prof Hashim Ahmed, from Imperial College London, said: “Radiotherapy is effective in most men but for the thousands of men with recurrent prostate cancer after radiotherapy, the options are very limited.

“Focal therapy for these patients offers a treatment for their cancer that does not carry the high risk of sideeffects from traditional hormones or major surgery.”

Prof Ahmed said there is a lack of awareness that this treatment exists, despite it being available on the NHS.

“This study will raise awareness and reassure the oncologists, who normally look after such patients, that this is an effective and safe option,” he added.

Paul Sayer, from the prostate cancer charity, Prost8, who has had focal therapy, said men need to be much better informed about the therapy so they can decide whether to ask for it.

“The study is great news but sadly most men will not even be told about this treatment option, even though it is available via the NHS, and we want to change that as soon as possible,” he said.

“Most men who see a urology consultant at their hospital following a prostate cancer diagnosis will only be offered the ‘tools’ that the hospital has in its tool box – either radiotherapy or surgery.

“I fought for focal therapy despite being told, falsely, that I wasn’t suitable for it. I had the advantage of having researched my options in advance so was able to dispute what I was being told.”

‘Focal therapy does not carry the high risk of side effects from hormones or surgery’