NHS England to Offer Precision Radiotherapy, Cutting Prostate Cancer Sessions by 75%
Thousands of men in England facing a prostate cancer diagnosis will now be eligible for advanced stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), a technique expected to drastically cut treatment sessions from twenty to just five. This development marks the first time SABR will be routinely offered to patients with low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer outside of clinical trials.
Approximately 17,500 of the 55,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year fall into these risk categories. Projections suggest that around 3,500 individuals, a fifth of this group, are likely to opt for SABR. This is partly due to many with low-risk cancer choosing active monitoring over immediate intervention, given the slow-growing nature of such malignancies.
Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer, highlighted the efficacy of SABR, noting that it allows for a precise, powerful beam to target cancerous cells, thereby minimising damage to healthy tissue. He emphasised that the reduction of fifteen treatment sessions would enable men to resume their normal lives considerably faster. All 48 radiotherapy centres across England are anticipated to begin offering this treatment within weeks.
Amy Rylance of Prostate Cancer UK welcomed the announcement, stating that the availability of this 'revolutionary targeted radiotherapy' would significantly alleviate the burden on patients and their families. The organisation also expressed hope for the future expansion of SABR to high-risk prostate cancer patients, with trials already underway.
Edwin Lambert, 70, from Suffolk, who participated in one such trial, described the new radiotherapy as 'easier to deal with' compared to traditional methods. Diagnosed in January 2025, Mr Lambert underwent hormone therapy before receiving the precision treatment targeting his prostate and surrounding lymph nodes. He reported experiencing only a temporary increase in urination frequency and was able to participate in an archaeological dig within five weeks, hailing the treatment as an 'absolute godsend'.
