The NHS has announced a major treatment change for thousands of men with prostate cancer, offering a pioneering new therapy that health chiefs say will 'transform' treatment. Highly targeted stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) is being made available for men with early stage prostate cancer for the first time.
How SABR Works
SABR blasts a tumour with a large, lethal dose of radiation, destroying cancer cells with pinpoint accuracy while sparing healthy tissue. It targets a tumour from many different directions to help reduce the risk of cancer spreading or returning. The treatment has proven to be more effective with fewer doses than conventional radiotherapy.
Patients typically need five doses in a fortnight, compared to at least 20 for standard radiotherapy. This reduces the burden of hospital visits and allows patients to return to their normal lives more quickly.
NHS Chief Executive's Statement
NHS chief executive Sir Jim Mackey is expected to announce the expansion at the health service’s annual conference in Manchester on Wednesday. He said: “This cutting-edge approach will transform treatment for thousands of men with prostate cancer, helping the NHS provide far more powerful and convenient care to stop their cancer spreading.”
He added that the technology will help reduce the risk of certain side effects and the major ‘to-and-fro’ burden of hospital treatment, which can be draining for patients and their families.
Impact on NHS Resources
Estimates suggest the wider rollout will free up around 50,000 appointments for treating the disease each year. The smaller number of doses will reduce travel stress, time off work, and disruption to patients’ lives.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, said: “This technology lets us focus a powerful and precise beam of radiotherapy directly onto the cancer, limiting the damage to healthy cells — and the fact it can be delivered in 15 fewer doses will help men get back to living their lives far more quickly.”
Eligibility and Background
SABR is already used on the NHS for men with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to other locations such as the bones or lymph nodes. The new expansion makes it available for early stage disease, though it is not suitable for everyone. Patients with questions about their treatment options are encouraged to speak to their specialist team.
More than 64,000 UK men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, according to Prostate Cancer UK. The disease affects one in eight men and claims 12,000 lives annually.
Government Support
Health Secretary James Murray said: “Thousands of men with prostate cancer will benefit from this pioneering precision radiotherapy, helping them access faster, more effective treatment while reducing the strain that cancer care can place on patients and their families.”
He noted that the treatment is backed by the Government's £70 million investment in radiotherapy machines, allowing patients to complete treatment in a fraction of the time compared with conventional radiotherapy. This is an important step in delivering the National Cancer Plan, expanding access to innovative cancer treatments closer to home.
