In a landmark decision for men's health, the NHS in England has dramatically widened access to a life-extending prostate cancer drug. The move is projected to save thousands of lives by offering the treatment to men at an earlier stage of the disease.
Ending a Postcode Lottery for Treatment
The drug, abiraterone, will now be available to approximately 8,000 men each year in England who are newly diagnosed with prostate cancer that has not spread beyond the gland. Previously, it was restricted to patients with advanced, metastatic cancer. This disparity meant that men in Scotland and Wales, where the drug was already more widely available, had better access, creating what charities condemned as an unfair postcode lottery.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with around 55,300 new diagnoses and 12,200 deaths annually. The expansion of abiraterone, which works by starving cancer cells of the hormones they need to grow, marks a significant shift in clinical approach.
A "Momentous" Victory Backed by Evidence
The decision follows compelling clinical evidence. A major trial led by University College London and the Institute of Cancer Research found that when given alongside standard therapy, abiraterone could halve the risk of the cancer returning and cut the risk of death by 40% for men with non-metastatic disease.
NHS England estimates that within the newly eligible group, the annual death toll from prostate cancer could fall from about 1,900 to fewer than 1,000. Over the next five years, Prostate Cancer UK calculates the change will save more than 3,000 lives.
Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England, stated that thousands of men can now start the year with the confidence of having a better chance at a longer, healthier life. He highlighted the health service's ongoing commitment to rolling out the most effective new treatments.
Charity Hails Life-Saving Decision
Amy Rylance, Assistant Director of Health Improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, hailed the move as a "momentous, life-saving victory." She described the previous situation as "devastating" for men in England who faced the terror of a cancer diagnosis only to find they were denied the best proven treatment.
"We refused to accept this outcome for men and we didn't stop until we changed it," Rylance added. The rollout was secured with the support of campaigners including the charity.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed his delight at the decision, emphasising that the government is backing the best clinical evidence to ensure patients get vital care when they need it most. Abiraterone will be administered in combination with the steroid prednisolone and standard treatments like hormone therapy and radiotherapy.
