Two important developments in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer have been announced recently:
- It is reported by ITV News that a new precision cancer treatment is a ‘potential lifeline’ for patients with the disease. A global trial of a new cancer treatment machine – a Magnetic Resonance-guided linear accelerator, or MR-linac – combines the precision imaging power of an MRI scanner with a powerful cancer-killing radiation beam. The new method is meant to focus radiation on the tumour more accurately. Read more here
- BBC News reports that a ‘prostate gel spacer’ reduces bowel and bladder damage. The liquid gel spacer increases the distance between the prostate and rectum to reduce the amount of radiation absorbed during treatment and can reduce the side effects of radiotherapy by 70%. More here