More NI men surviving prostate cancer due to treatment advances
Specialists in Belfast have been carrying out a treatment called bracytherapy, which has seen the chances of a relapse halved.
The form of radiotherapy involves a more targeted approach, delivering radiation directly into the prostate gland.
The cancer receives a higher dose than normal, compared to conventional radiotherapy.
Belfast was one of the first hospitals in the UK and Ireland to offer the treatment to patients, supported by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and the Belfast Cancer Centre.
Dr Darren Mitchell, consultant clinical oncologist, says Belfast is leading the way:
“Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer and in Northern Ireland alone three men are diagnosed with the disease every day," he said.
He added: "Treatment options have significantly evolved in recent years and Northern Ireland has very much been at the forefront of some of the latest developments, in particular brachytherapy treatment which allows us to accurately place radiation directly into the prostate gland.
"In 2009 we were made aware of a Canadian study, the ASCENDE-RT Trial, which was showing very positive results by combining external beam radiotherapy with low dose rate brachytherapy.
"We had the expertise in Belfast to offer this locally and felt that it could have a very significant and positive impact on our patients.
"We carried out our first combination treatment in 2009 and were one of the earliest centres in the UK or Ireland to adopt this approach.
"To date nearly 500 men have had prostate brachytherapy in Northern Ireland, with almost 60 men treated with the combined radiotherapy and brachytherapy treatment.
"The ASCENDE – RT Trial, which was published earlier this year, has shown that 89% of men have no sign of recurrent prostate cancer at 5 years after their combination therapy. In Northern Ireland, all of our patients treated with combination therapy are still alive today which is hugely encouraging.
"As a team we are proud to have led the way on this and we are now a centre of excellence internationally for this type of treatment. The fact that much of our work is supported by funding from Friends of the Cancer Centre also means that local people who donate to this wonderful charity have played a very big part in this achievement.”