Wife Spotted Red Flag Symptom That Led to Diagnosis
Edwin Lambert, 70, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2025 after his wife Pat and son Stuart noticed he was urinating more frequently. Despite initially ignoring the symptom, he underwent a blood test that revealed a PSA level of 22.9 ng/mL, far above the normal range of 0-4.5 ng/mL for his age. Biopsies confirmed adenocarcinoma, the most common form of prostate cancer. Edwin described the moment as surreal: "Is he talking about me? Has he got the right set of results? I suppose it's disbelief."
New SABR Radiotherapy Rolled Out on NHS
Edwin is one of the first patients to receive stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) through an NHS trial, after the health service announced it would offer the precision treatment to thousands of men with low to intermediate risk prostate cancer. SABR delivers high-intensity radiation in around five doses, compared to the usual 20, by focusing multiple beams on the tumour while sparing surrounding tissue. Simon Grieveson, assistant director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, explained: "It's much like if you shine a number of torches onto the same spot. The intensity of the brightness is higher in that point where they all meet."
Patient Journey: From Surgery Request to Trial
Initially, Edwin requested a radical prostatectomy (surgery to remove the prostate) but was advised against it because the cancer had breached the prostate's outer lining. His doctor instead offered him a place in the SABR trial. Edwin said: "He explained that it was five mega-doses, closely targeted and very focused. And it's done over a 10-day period so you have a dose, then a day off. He said the side effects were much more severe but over a lot quicker." Edwin, a keen citizen scientist who had booked an archaeological dig, decided SABR gave him the best chance of recovering in time.
Treatment Process and Side Effects
Before each session, Edwin had to follow strict preparation: an enema to empty his bowel and drinking 300ml of water to fill his bladder to a specific volume. He was tattooed with three dots to align the radiotherapy beams. During the seven-second doses, he lay still while the machine targeted the tumour. "The treatment itself was a walk in the park," he said. However, side effects included painful radiation-induced cystitis and bowel disturbances, which cleared up within five weeks. He also underwent hormone replacement therapy to suppress testosterone, leading to hot flushes, mood swings, loss of libido, and erectile dysfunction. Despite this, Edwin called it a "small price to pay" for treating his cancer.
Recovery and Encouragement for Men
Now in recovery with a PSA level below the detectable threshold of 0.02 ng/mL, Edwin is helping to clean and catalogue finds from the archaeological dig. He urged men to be more open about cancer: "There's far too much secrecy about male cancers in general. 49% of the population has got a prostate, testes, a penis, and everything related to it. Men need to get over it, to get out there, to have the tests, to talk." He also advised speaking to professionals, citing his Macmillan support worker Alex as a key source of guidance.
NHS Rollout and Future Research
Around 17,500 men with low or intermediate risk prostate cancer are expected to qualify for SABR, with NHS modelling suggesting one in five may choose it. Prostate Cancer UK is investing £865,000 in the STAR-TRAP study, led by The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, to test SABR in men with incurable prostate cancer that has spread. Simon Grieveson said: "The previous trial we funded proved that SABR can give men extra months before their cancer starts to grow again and could allow some men to safely hold off having chemotherapy." He added that the NHS rollout is part of an "exciting revolution in the way radiotherapy is being delivered," moving toward precision medicine tailored to individual cancers.
Treatment Options and Patient Choice
As the treatment landscape expands, men facing prostate cancer decisions should work with clinicians to choose the best option—whether radiotherapy, surgery, focal therapy like Jeremy Clarkson's HIFU procedure, or active surveillance. Grieveson emphasized: "It's really important that men are informed of their treatment choices, what's available and what's potentially right for them and for their cancer."
