Peter Duncan, the former Blue Peter presenter, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019 and has since become a campaigner for wider access to focal therapy, a less invasive treatment he received himself.
Diagnosis and treatment choice
Duncan, now 72, revealed on Good Morning Britain that after his diagnosis, he was offered surgery to remove his prostate. However, he was reluctant and sought alternatives, eventually discovering focal therapy.
He recounted: "I'd had my MRI and then I got a message, 'Yes, you have got prostate cancer'. I hadn't thought about it in such a long time. I was talking to my wife the other day about how I'd forgotten that bit, or I'd forgotten how it was. You are emotionally involved in it because you go from, 'Am I going to die?' to trying to get a prognosis and working out what might happen."
After a consultation, he was told he should have a prosectomy, which involves complete removal of the prostate gland. Duncan explained: "Then, there's a whole myriad of things you can do about it. I ended up going to have a session with a doctor, and they said you should have a prosectomy, that's when my own instincts kicked in."
Focal therapy benefits
After being referred to a different specialist, Duncan learned he was eligible for focal therapy. He said: "The thing about focal therapy is it's less invasive, and that's where my interest in it lies. The side effects and all the other things that can happen to you are less because of this particular treatment."
The therapy uses ultrasound to target only affected cells, leaving healthy tissue intact, reducing complications. However, as ITV's Kate Garraway noted, prostate cancer kills around 12,000 men annually in the UK, and treatment is often invasive.
Access and campaign
Co-host Adil Ray highlighted: "The treatment isn't widely available on the NHS, meaning access can depend on your postcode." Keith Morgan from Prostate Cancer UK said: "It's a frustrating situation. Where you live determines hugely whether you're able to access it or if you're part of a trial, which includes focal therapy."
Currently, only 1,000 patients can access the therapy. The government has pledged up to £2.8 million to expand provision through new centres. Duncan admitted: "I was just lucky, I lived in an area where it was available," and urged wider rollout.
Government response
Health Innovation and Safety Minister Preet Kaur Gill said: "Everyone deserves access to the best possible treatment, and this government is determined to make that a reality. This study is a powerful demonstration of what focal therapy can achieve."
She added: "Our investment of up to £2.8 million, announced earlier this year, will help expand the TRANSFORM trial and ensure more men have access to this treatment through prostate cancer screening. 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."
