New Study Finds Fewer Radiotherapy Sessions Can Safely Treat Prostate Cancer
A groundbreaking trial conducted by the Royal Marsden NHS foundation trust and the Institute of Cancer Research in London has found that men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer can be safely exposed to fewer radiotherapy sessions. The study discovered that reducing radiotherapy doses by three-quarters and delivering five higher doses over five days is just as effective as 20 smaller doses delivered over several weeks.
The results of the study are significant for prostate cancer patients, as they offer a more convenient and efficient treatment option. After five years, 96% of the men who received the higher multibeam doses of radiotherapy were cancer-free, compared to 95% of those who received the standard 20 doses. The lead researcher of the study, Prof Nicholas van As, described the results as “outstanding and fantastic.”
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with over 1.4 million cases diagnosed worldwide each year. In the UK alone, one in six men are diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, and approximately 12,000 men die from the disease annually. While some prostate cancers are slow-growing and may not cause harm, others can be aggressive and difficult to treat.
The new findings from this trial offer hope for more efficient and effective treatment options for prostate cancer patients. By delivering the same level of cancer-fighting radiotherapy in just five days instead of several weeks, patients can spend less time in the hospital and reduce the number of appointments and visits. Alistair Kennedy-Rose, a participant in the study, expressed his disbelief at how easy and quick his treatment was for such a serious diagnosis.
Experts in the field, such as Simon Grieveson, assistant director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, and Prof Emma Hall from the Institute of Cancer Research, have praised the study’s results. They believe that this new type of multibeam therapy could help men receive treatment more quickly and with far fewer hospital visits. It is seen as a gamechanger for patients and a significant advancement in the field of radiotherapy.
The results of the study will be presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology conference in San Diego. The study compared results from 874 patients in the UK, Ireland, and Canada who received either the shorter or longer course of treatment. After five years, those treated with the shorter course had a 95.7% rate of remaining cancer-free, compared to 94.6% for those who received conventional radiotherapy. The study also found that side effects were low and similar between the two groups.
These findings offer promising advancements in the treatment of prostate cancer and highlight the potential for more efficient and effective therapies. As the field of radiotherapy continues to advance, patients’ lives can be improved with treatments that require less time in the hospital while maintaining high efficacy rates.