TV presenter Peter Duncan has called for a “life-changing” and minimally-invasive prostate cancer treatment to be accessible across the UK.
The 72-year-old actor and broadcaster, known for hosting Blue Peter in the 1980s, revealed his prostate cancer diagnosis in 2019 and subsequently underwent focal therapy.
The treatment destroys only the cancerous part of the prostate, and studies have proven it successfully delivers long-term outcomes for patients with minimal side effects.
Focal therapy effectiveness
A recent report by researchers at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare Trust also found that focal therapy is as effective as radiotherapy and prostatectomy surgery.
Prostate Cancer UK has encouraged the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) to review the latest evidence about the treatment as it emphasises the importance of making it widely available.
Duncan has backed the charity in its latest move as he reflected on how focal therapy was a “complete success” for him.
Duncan's experience
He said: “I was originally offered a radical prostatectomy which would have removed the whole prostate, but I was lucky enough to be treated with focal therapy which was better for me and a less invasive option.
“It was a complete success, and I’ve only experienced very minor after-effects, allowing me to continue with my life as before.
“But as it stands, many men aren’t given the same chance I was, and that needs to change.
“That’s why I’m backing Prostate Cancer UK’s calls for Nice to review new evidence and make sure thousands of men across the UK can access these life-changing treatments.”
Duncan is among many famous faces to have accessed focal therapy such as TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson and former prime minister Lord David Cameron.
Side effects and access
Focal therapy leads to a five-fold lower risk of side effects such as incontinence, erectile dysfunction and rectal problems compared to traditional radiotherapy or surgery because it only targets the areas of cancer.
Amy Rylance, director of health services, equity and improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Without a timeline from Nice, we simply don’t know how long men will have to wait for approval on the NHS.
“The sad truth is that until then thousands of men will have to deal with life-changing side effects simply because of their postcode.
“That’s completely unacceptable, which is why we’re calling for an urgent review of these treatments.”
According to Prostate Cancer UK, the condition is the most common cancer in men and one in eight men will receive a diagnosis in their lifetime, with the risk increasing if you are over 50, black, or have a family history of the disease.
Prostate cancer develops slowly so there may be no signs for years, though symptoms may include an increased need to urinate, straining while urinating and a feeling that the bladder has not fully emptied, according to the NHS.
