Today marks a major step forward in the treatment of prostate cancer in the Midlands, as University Hospitals of Northamptonshire officially launch a new NHS Focal Therapy Service at Northampton General Hospital. This brings high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment to NHS prostate cancer patients in the region for the first time.
Graham Fulford MBE, founder of GFCT Focal Therapy, is attending the official launch today and shared his thoughts:
“I’m delighted to see the hard work of so many people has at last come to fruition with the launch of a HIFU facility within the NHS at Northampton General Hospital. I feel very proud to have been invited to the official launch on Friday 25th April. I sincerely hope this will be the first of many such facilities outside London—expanding prostate cancer treatment options across the UK. Congratulations to all those who've worked so hard to get this up and running. This service is particularly beneficial for those of us living in the Midlands, as it will give many men the opportunity to have this new form of much less invasive treatment.”
Announced by University Hospitals of Northamptonshire:
The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire is setting up the first NHS Focal Therapy Service for the Midlands and will start by delivering a pioneering new soundwave treatment for prostate cancer.
The service, launching today at Northampton General Hospital on Friday 25 April, follows a fundraising campaign launched last July which has resulted in significant private donations to the Northamptonshire Health Charity (NHC). This has enabled the purchase of a High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) machine and other focal therapy equipment for the hospital.
The initial focal therapy to be offered at Northampton General Hospital will use high frequency soundwaves (HIFU) to treat cancer. Other focal therapy equipment being purchased as part of setting up the new service includes using electricity (irreversible electroporation – also known as NanoKnife) and extreme cold (Cryotherapy). An MRI-fusion prostate biopsy machine capable of performing more accurate prostate cancer diagnosis is also planned. With this range of focal therapy capability NGH will be one of the best equipped NHS Hospitals for the treatment of prostate cancer in the country.
“Focal Therapy offers significant advantages over surgery and radiotherapy treatments,” said UHN Associate Medical Director and consultant urologist Mr. Chandran Tanabalan. “It treats just the part of the prostate affected by cancer, leading to lower risks of long-term side effects, faster recovery times, and better quality of life. We are very excited to be delivering this treatment for the first time for NHS patients in the Midlands.”
There are about 1,000 men each year diagnosed with prostate cancer in Northamptonshire alone and focal therapy could be an option for about 200 of them. The service, once fully established, will be available to some suitable patients throughout the East Midlands.
The first patients will be offered focal therapy treatment in coming weeks and it is hoped the service will be fully established with all the equipment in place by the Summer.
Read the full article here.
Learn more about HIFU treatment here.
Read about our new project to expand access to HIFU treatment in UK hospitals - GFCT Focal Therapy