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New Study Shows Focal Therapy for Prostate Cancer Reduces Side Effects!

A less invasive approach to prostate cancer treatment, known as focal therapy, has emerged as a promising alternative, proving just as effective as

A less invasive approach to prostate cancer treatment, known as focal therapy, has emerged as a promising alternative, proving just as effective as traditional surgeries or radiotherapy, but with a significantly lower risk of side effects. This groundbreaking conclusion comes from a substantial 10-year NHS study spearheaded by Imperial College London, which tracked nearly 3,500 men who underwent the therapy. The findings are a game-changer for many, as they provide long-awaited long-term data that medical regulators had previously deemed necessary but lacking. Researchers hailed the results as “excellent,” affirming that focal therapy delivers outstanding long-term cancer control across a diverse patient demographic.

Focal therapy, which utilizes high-intensity ultrasound or freezing cryotherapy to eliminate cancerous tissues, has been around for over two decades. Yet, despite its potential benefits, only about 1,000 men in the UK currently receive this treatment each year, while estimates suggest that as many as 15,000 could greatly benefit from it. The therapy, however, isn’t suitable for everyone—men with cancer spread across multiple areas of the prostate or those whose cancer has extended beyond the gland cannot consider this option.

Take Rob Huxford, for instance. Diagnosed with prostate cancer at the young age of 44 back in 2020, he considers himself “incredibly fortunate” that his doctor recommended focal therapy. “My outcomes have been fantastic,” he shared, emphasizing that access to such innovative treatments should be available nationwide. “I hope this evidence marks a turning point where every suitable man is routinely offered focal therapy as part of his treatment options, no matter where he lives,” he told the BBC.

Despite the promising results, there’s been hesitance in rolling out focal therapy more broadly, largely due to concerns about long-term survival and the potential for cancer recurrence when only part of the prostate is treated. However, this new study, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, suggests that these fears are largely unfounded. Unfortunately, the health regulator NICE has yet to approve focal therapy as a standard treatment. This lack of approval means that hospitals aren’t obligated to offer it, resulting in routine access being restricted to just ten centers in England, leaving the rest of the UK behind in what prostate cancer advocates have labeled a “postcode lottery.”

Amy Rylance from a cancer charity commented, “Our National Cancer Plan sets out our ambition to transform cancer care, and backing innovations like focal therapy is exactly how we are delivering on that promise. It could help thousands of men each year avoid unnecessary side effects.” She urged NICE to reassess the evidence, emphasizing the importance of screening for prostate cancer and the potential for broader access to treatments.

As we await further developments, Dr. Transform, a leading figure in this field, stated, “It’s an exciting potential treatment. We eagerly anticipate the results of the PART Trial, the first and only large randomized controlled trial comparing focal versus radical therapy in prostate cancer treatment.” Until then, focal therapy remains a hopeful experimental option for many.

Have you or someone you know been affected by these issues? Let’s discuss…

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber

Historic Prostate Cancer Screening Trial Expands for Black Men in the UK

Tens of thousands more black men aged 45-74 are set to receive invitations for prostate cancer screenings in the UK, as part of a significant trial a

Tens of thousands more black men aged 45-74 are set to receive invitations for prostate cancer screenings in the UK, as part of a significant trial aimed at improving testing methods for this prevalent disease. The announcement, made by the government, has been hailed as a “truly historic moment” by various charities and campaigners. This initiative comes on the heels of the UK National Screening Committee’s recent recommendation, which suggests that routine testing for prostate cancer should not be offered to most men due to the potential harms outweighing the benefits in many cases. However, there are exceptions for a small group of men who have a dangerous genetic variant and a family history of cancer.

Men are encouraged to discuss with their doctors whether a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test might be beneficial for them. Ignoring symptoms like difficulty urinating could lead to severe consequences. The reality is that while screening healthy men without symptoms could indeed save some lives, it might also result in unnecessary treatments. Some of these treatments carry risks, such as leaving men unable to control their bladder or achieve an erection. It’s worth noting that not all prostate tumors require immediate treatment and some may never become life-threatening, which is a crucial reason behind the cautious approach towards widespread screening.

Prostate cancer remains the most common cancer among men in the UK, with approximately 64,000 new diagnoses and around 12,000 deaths each year. The alarming statistic reveals that one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and for black men, that risk escalates to one in four. In response to this pressing health issue, the government is committing £18 million to the Transform trial, aiming to invite more black men to participate in this vital research.

The Transform trial is examining whether additional tests, alongside the PSA test, such as genetic screenings and expedited MRI scans, can enhance screening accuracy. All black men aged 45-74 who haven’t undergone a recent PSA test will be given the opportunity to take part in this research initiative. The government believes this trial will contribute to developing a more effective screening system in the future. Health Secretary James Murray stated, “This is a major step forward in how we tackle prostate cancer – focusing on those most at risk, improving the treatments available, and backing the research we need to close the evidence gaps and save lives.”

Commencing earlier this year, the trial has already begun reaching out to men. Prostate Cancer UK has expressed its delight over the government’s decision, emphasizing that it will help the charity disseminate clear and trusted information to more black men. Prof. Prabhakar Rajan from Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, welcomed the move to include more black men in the research, pointing out that they have historically been under-represented in prostate cancer studies, despite being disproportionately impacted by the disease.

While it’s clear that black men face a significantly higher risk of developing prostate cancer, whether those cancers prove to be more dangerous remains uncertain. The National Screening Committee has pledged to monitor any new evidence gathered from this trial, which could potentially lead to adjustments and expansions in screening programs for more men in the future.

So, what’s next? Will this trial pave the way for more tailored and effective screening methods for those at risk? Only time will tell…

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber

Prostate Cancer Screening Limited to ‘Few Thousand’ High-Risk Men

Only “a few thousand” men with a dangerous genetic variant and a family history of cancer are recommended to undergo prostate cancer screening throug

Only “a few thousand” men with a dangerous genetic variant and a family history of cancer are recommended to undergo prostate cancer screening through a blood test, according to the final guidelines released by scientific advisers in the UK. The National Screening Committee has stated that for all other groups, the potential harms of screening outweigh any benefits. Now, it’s important to note, testing healthy men can indeed save lives from prostate cancer, but it can also lead to treatments that leave them dealing with severe side effects, such as loss of bladder control or difficulties in achieving erections. So, it’s a real double-edged sword.

The final call on this matter will be up to health ministers across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The prostate, situated just below the bladder, plays a crucial role in male anatomy, contributing to seminal fluid production and influencing urine flow. Prostate cancer stands as the most prevalent cancer among men, tragically claiming around 12,000 lives annually in the UK alone.

Now, prostate screening typically involves a blood test measuring prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and depending on those results, an MRI scan may follow. According to a thorough review by the National Screening Committee, out of every 1,000 men screened in their 50s, only two lives would be saved from prostate cancer over the next 15 years. However, this comes at a cost—20 men would be informed they have a cancer that would never necessitate treatment. Some prostate cancers are so slow-growing that a man would need to live to be between 120 and 150 years old before they posed any real threat.

Imagine living with the psychological weight of a cancer diagnosis for the rest of your life, knowing that you might never have needed treatment in the first place. Out of those 20 men, about 12 would likely undergo unnecessary treatment, which could harm their prostate, potentially affecting their sexual health and even leading to incontinence, meaning they might need to wear pads for leaking urine. “Once prostate cancer is found, we still can’t reliably determine which cancers require treatment and which do not – and the treatments available can cause long-term harm,” explained Prof Sir Mike Richards, chair of the screening committee and himself a prostate cancer patient.

The committee’s final recommendations state that screening should not be extended to most men. The only exception is for those with a BRCA2 gene variant and a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or prostate cancer, where the benefits of screening appear to exceed the risks. BRCA2 plays a vital role in DNA repair, and certain mutations can make cancers more common and deadlier. Eligible men in this high-risk category are advised to receive a PSA blood test every two years from ages 45 to 61. This limited screening will apply to just a “few thousand” men each year. Some of these men are already receiving informal screenings through NHS genetics clinics because of their family backgrounds.

The screening committee has committed to continually assessing new evidence. This could potentially lead to broader screening programs in the future, including new tests for prostate cancer that may better identify those who genuinely require treatment, AI tools, and insights from the ongoing Transform trial which aims to address uncertainties regarding prostate cancer in Black men. While the heightened risk for Black men regarding prostate cancer is evident, it’s still unclear whether these cancers are more aggressive, which could influence whether the NHS should expand screening.

Sir Mike expressed hope that “new evidence, better tests, and a deeper understanding of prostate cancer will pave the way for wider screening in the future,” though he emphasized the need for solid evidence first. The review follows a vigorous campaign involving charities and notable figures like Olympian Sir Chris Hoy, who is battling terminal prostate cancer, along with former Prime Ministers David Cameron and Rishi Sunak. Prominent personalities like actor Stephen Fry and footballer Les Ferdinand have also voiced their support on an issue that resonates with many men.

Interestingly, the final advice has narrowed the scope of screening even more than what was proposed last November when men with both BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations could have qualified. Chiara De Biase from Prostate Cancer UK expressed her deep disappointment with the recommendations, stating, “We know that a mass screening program could save thousands of men’s lives. While we acknowledge the current evidence does not convincingly support screening all at-risk men, this decision feels like a step backward, limiting recommendations to a smaller group.”

Ultimately, the fate of prostate screening will rest in the hands of ministers in the UK’s devolved governments. Sir Mike is scheduled to meet with the new health secretary James Murray on Monday to discuss these recommendations. Dr. Ian Walker, executive director of policy at Cancer Research UK, emphasized, “Screening decisions must be guided by the current evidence, with programs introduced only when benefits clearly outweigh the harms, including unnecessary and invasive overtreatment. We urge the UK Government to accept the recommendation.”

As we watch the developments in this ongoing situation, one can’t help but wonder what the future holds for prostate cancer screening and the thousands of men potentially affected by these decisions…

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber