Swindon researcher raises concerns over prostate cancer treatment contradictions
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men
Concerns are being raised by a Swindon researcher over men being treated for prostate cancer too early, leading to health risks.
Since 2024, recommendations from the NHS and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) over treatment have been contradicting each other.
According to new data from Prostate Cancer UK, this has led 35 hospitals in the country to create their own guidelines.
Hayley Luxton, Head of Research and Impact at Prostate Cancer UK, told Greatest Hits Radio: “It's creating a little bit of a post code lottery and it really depends on where you live and what the hospitals that you visit decide to do.
“We don't think that's good enough for men. We think men all over the country should have the best form of treatment. That can radiotherapy or surgery, if the prostate cancer is more aggressive.
“But if they do have low-risk prostate cancer, they should also be offered Active Surveillance as well.”
Active Surveillance is a non-invasive monitoring option for men with low-risk prostate cancer which keeps track of the cancer’s development through blood tests.
While NICE are recommending Active Surveillance only for men in the lowest risk category, the NHS updated its guidelines in 2024 to also include the second-lowest risk category.
According to Prostate Cancer UK, eight in 10 men with the second-lowest risk show no sign of cancer progression within five years, compared to nine in 10 of those who are considered to have the lowest risk.
This means that up to 5,000 men a year receive a treatment they do not need – and which comes with possibly life-changing side effects.
“Some men might decide to have surgery, which is a really good way of cutting out the prostate cancer.
“But behind the prostate are a bundle of nerves, and these nerves are almost invisible to the surgeon’s eyes, so it's really hard to protect these nerves. If you cut these nerve bundles, men could have erectile dysfunction, and they can also develop incontinence”, explained Ms Luxton.
“So, these potentially life-changing side effects are worth taking if your cancer is growing quickly and it and it needs to be treated. But if your cancer is slow-growing, then those are quite high risks to take.
“And with radiotherapy, which is another treatment for prostate cancer, you can get side effects to the bowel where you can lose control of your bowel function.
“So, if these side effects can be avoided, then they should be.”
Prostate Cancer UK already asked NICE to update their Active Surveillance guidelines two years ago, but the request was rejected.