Home / Health / NHS Failing Prostate Cancer Patients: Focal Therapy Denied
NHS Failing Prostate Cancer Patients: Focal Therapy Denied
30 Nov
Summary
- Focal therapy offers fewer side effects than traditional cancer treatments.
- Only seven NHS hospitals offer the life-changing focal therapy treatment.
- Thousands of men are not offered a cheaper, less invasive treatment option.
A groundbreaking cancer therapy, focal therapy, which successfully treated former Prime Minister David Cameron, is being withheld from thousands of UK prostate cancer patients. This targeted treatment significantly reduces debilitating side effects like incontinence and erectile dysfunction, common with traditional surgery or radiotherapy. It is also more cost-effective for the NHS.
Despite its benefits, focal therapy is only available at a mere seven NHS hospitals, exclusively located in London and the South East. This scarcity means a significant number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer are not being offered this less invasive and potentially life-changing option, leading to criticism that the NHS is failing its patients.
While the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence advises caution due to the therapy's relative newness, experts and patient charities argue for wider adoption. They highlight that equipment for focal therapy is substantially cheaper than standard surgical robots, and per-patient costs are lower, urging for increased capacity and availability across the NHS.
