Prostate cancer treatment with potential for fewer side effects to be trialled in UK

A groundbreaking proceedings for a prostate crab attraction has been launched successful the UK, with the anticipation of reducing the broadside effects.

Backed by the government-funded National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the proceedings volition analyse whether Aquablation - a therapy utilizing robotics, AI and real-time imaging - works arsenic good oregon amended than accepted surgery.

Currently, the full prostate gland is removed successful a bid to cure men of prostate cancer, successful a process called extremist prostatectomy.

It is lone suitable for men whose crab has not dispersed extracurricular of the prostate gland oregon has dispersed to the country conscionable extracurricular the gland, and carries a hazard of superior broadside effects, specified arsenic infection, erectile dysfunction and urinary problems.

With Aquablation, which is little invasive, experts anticipation to minimise these issues.

The caller therapy, which involves a robotic-assisted, high-pressure h2o jet, allows surgeons to representation the full prostate successful existent clip with ultrasound.

Using the technique, medics find cancerous insubstantial to region portion avoiding surrounding nerves and muscles associated with erectile relation and the bladder.

Aquablation is presently utilized successful immoderate centres to dainty benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

An 'incredibly exciting' alternate surgical treatment

The caller proceedings - which is sponsored by US institution Procept BioRobotics - is being tally successful 7 countries.

The 4 UK centres are the Royal Marsden, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Overall, 280 patients volition beryllium recruited globally, each with early-stage, localised prostate crab who person already decided to person surgery.

Philip Charlesworth, advisor urological surgeon astatine the Royal Marsden, said: "For men with prostate crab confined to the prostate, curative options are excellent, nevertheless we are becoming progressively focused connected the broadside effects of the crab attraction and however we tin clasp caller exertion to support a man's quality-of-life pursuing their surgery.

"This proceedings is measuring Aquablation therapy, which uses a robotic attack to surgically region the cancer, and to sphere a man's quality to stay continent and support intersexual activity."

Calling the proceedings "an incredibly breathtaking imaginable for the aboriginal of prostate crab care", helium said affirmative results could pb to the summation of "an alternate surgical attraction enactment for patients with localised prostate crab crossed the globe".

Other imaginable treatments for localised prostate crab see progressive surveillance oregon monitoring of the crab and radiation.

Cases connected the rise

Figures from Prostate Cancer UK suggest astir 1 successful 8 men volition person the crab successful their lifetime.

A full of 58,218 men were diagnosed with prostate crab successful England past twelvemonth - an summation of astir 9% compared with 2023.

Last month, technological advisers said prostate crab screening should not beryllium made routinely disposable for the immense bulk of men successful the UK, telling the authorities they would beryllium "likely to origin much harm than good".

For now, the committee volition enactment guardant lone a proposal to surface men with BRCA1 and BRCA2 familial mutations - which puts them astatine acold higher hazard of prostate crab - each 2 years, betwixt the ages of 45 and 61.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said helium was "surprised" by the decision.

In caller months, determination has been increasing unit for screening from high-profile nationalist figures specified arsenic Olympian Sir Chris Hoy and erstwhile Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan. Both person been diagnosed with precocious prostate cancer.

Former premier curate Lord Cameron had besides backed the run for screening aft revealing helium had been treated for prostate cancer.