A comprehensive study suggests that focal therapy, a less invasive approach for treating prostate cancer, offers survival rates comparable to surgery or radiotherapy while significantly reducing the likelihood of adverse side effects. The procedure utilizes high-intensity ultrasound or cryotherapy to precisely target and destroy malignant cells.
Led by Imperial College London, the decade-long NHS investigation monitored nearly 3,500 patients. Findings revealed that among men with intermediate or high-risk prostate cancer, only two fatalities were attributed to the disease after ten years. Furthermore, patients experienced less than half the rate of complications, such as incontinence or sexual dysfunction, typically associated with conventional treatments.
Professor Hashim Ahmed, a senior researcher on the study, noted that focal therapy provides robust long-term cancer management. Despite this evidence, the treatment remains underutilized in the UK, with only about 1,000 of the approximately 15,000 potentially eligible men receiving it annually. Critics describe the current limited access as a postcode lottery, as routine provision is currently restricted to ten centers in England.
Patients and advocates, including Prost8 UK founder Paul Sayer, are pushing for broader availability. While the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has yet to approve the method for routine use due to previous data gaps, the government has recently pledged 2.8 million pounds to expand focal therapy facilities. Health experts suggest this evidence could also support the development of a national prostate cancer screening program by minimizing the harms associated with standard interventions.
