In a significant boost for cancer care, thousands of men in England are set to be offered a life-extending prostate cancer drug on the NHS within weeks.
Expanded Access to Vital Treatment
The health service is widening access to the prescription oral tablet, abiraterone, allowing patients whose cancer has not yet spread to receive it for the first time. This move is expected to benefit around 2,000 people diagnosed within the last three months, with a further 7,000 men each year likely to become eligible.
Abiraterone works by "starving the disease of the hormones it needs to grow", effectively stopping the cancer from spreading. NHS research underscores its effectiveness, showing that 86 per cent of men were alive after six years on abiraterone, compared to 77% on standard treatment.
A Major Step in Fighting a Common Cancer
This development is particularly crucial given the scale of prostate cancer in the UK. According to Cancer Research UK, more than 55,000 new cases are diagnosed annually, making it the most common cancer among men and the second most prevalent overall.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting emphasised the government's commitment, stating: "We’re serious about improving prostate cancer outcomes – treating it faster and giving loved ones more time together... I’m delighted the NHS have taken the steps needed to make the drug available, giving thousands of men access to abiraterone – a treatment that significantly improves survival rates."
Clinical Leadership and Future Innovations
Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England, highlighted the impact: "For thousands of men with prostate cancer, this treatment option could be life-changing by helping keep their cancer at bay for several years." He added that the NHS continues to roll out new, evidence-based treatments for the disease.
Looking ahead, researchers at the University of Cambridge are developing a potentially revolutionary blood test. This innovative test uses DNA methylation markers to accurately detect prostate cancer, assess its aggressiveness, and determine if treatment is necessary. It could offer an alternative for men with high PSA levels, potentially reducing the need for invasive biopsies.
The imminent availability of abiraterone marks a pivotal moment in prostate cancer care, offering renewed hope and the prospect of precious extra years of life for thousands of patients across England.
