A targeted form of radiation therapy is as effective as surgery for prostate cancer and has fewer side effects, a study suggests.
Men who received the ultra-precise treatment, called stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), were just as likely to be cancer-free as those who had their prostates removed eight years after treatment.
However, they also had fewer side effects such as urinary problems, according to new research presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.
SBRT is a more precise and powerful form of radiation that targets cancer cells while avoiding healthy tissue.
Previous studies have shown that it can be given at higher doses than conventional radiotherapy and much less frequently.
However, for the new research, carried out by experts from the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London, the impact of the treatment was compared directly to surgical removal of the prostate.
This is also known as radical prostatectomy and carries risks of side effects, including erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and other problems.
It follows the announcement in June that around 17,000 men a year would be offered prostate beam therapy, called stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), on the NHS.
Gn Health
