An Evaluation of Focal Therapy in the Treatment of Localized Prostate Cancer An Evaluation of Focal Therapy in th

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The choice for men who have prostate cancer that has not spread outside the gland is between active surveillance and treating the whole gland with surgery or radiotherapy. Active surveillance involves monitoring the disease using blood tests and repeated biopsies every 2-3 years. Treatment is given only if the cancer shows signs of progressing. The benefit of whole-gland treatment in reducing the risk of dying from cancer is 5% or less within 10 years. However, treatment carries risk of incontinence, impotence and rectal problems. These occur because treating the whole gland leads to damage to structures immediately surrounding the prostateThis programme of research will see if prostate cancer management can be developed in a similar way to how breast cancer treatment changed two decades ago. Women usually had to undergo an operation to remove the whole breast whereas currently, most women undergo a lumpectomy of only the cancer. This proposal will evaluate a similar principal in prostate cancer. In other words, in men with prostate cancer can we destroy only the areas of cancer and achieve lower side-effects. At the same time, can we maintain good cancer control.