Many readers of this publication will know someone among their friends or male colleagues who have been told that they have tested positive for prostate cancer.
Fortunately, science is making great strides in this area. Now, thanks to the ongoing support of Northamptonshire Health Charity (NHC), Northampton General Hospital has launched their new NHS Focal Therapy Service – only the seventh in the country — which marks a major step forward in the treatment of prostate cancer in the Midlands, bringing day case treatment to prostate cancer patients in the region.
The technology uses high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), a pioneering new soundwave treatment for prostate cancer. With the addition of an MRI-fusion prostate biopsy machine, capable of performing more accurate prostate cancer diagnoses, Northampton General Hospital will be one of the best equipped NHS Hospitals for the treatment of prostate cancer in the country.
The purchase and installation of this cutting-edge equipment follows a fundraising campaign launched last July which has resulted in significant private donations to the Northamptonshire Health Charity. This has enabled the first patients to use the service this June and the facility should be fully operational by the summer.
Businesses will be only too aware of the risk of losing a key employee to a diagnosis of prostate cancer. More than 1,000 men are currently living with a prostate cancer diagnosis in Northamptonshire.
HIFU is not an option for everyone, but it is an effective option for about 200 of those with localised, medium-to-large-volume prostate cancer in the lower part of the prostate, especially those diagnosed at an early or intermediate stage.
“Focal Therapy offers significant advantages over surgery and radiotherapy treatments,” says consultant urologist Mr. Chandran Tanabalan. “It treats just the part of the prostate affected by cancer, leading to lower risks of long-term side effects, faster recovery times, and better quality of life.
“The targeted tissue is heated to a temperature that destroys the cancer cells. Each procedure takes about 60-90 minutes and is usually performed as a day case operation with the person returning home the same day.”
The fundraising campaign has received donations of more than £400,000 and is set to achieve its target of £450,000 to add in some additional diagnostic tools.
The Chief Executive of Northamptonshire Health Charity, Jonathan McGee, said: “During the initial fundraising for the campaign I too was diagnosed with prostate cancer. This gave me a valuable personal perspective on the importance of this appeal. And although I am quite ‘young’ for a diagnosis, it shows the importance of screening. I’m fortunate that for me it’s ‘watch and wait’ so I may never need treatment.
“However, it is good to know that there are innovations such as HIFU and other forms of Focal Therapy that can minimise the need to use radical surgery and radiotherapy to treat prostate cancer.”
