According to a new cancer patient survey, 75% of patients with cancer have never heard of brachytherapy - a state-of-the-art technology that brings the radiation dose directly to the target cancer area, avoiding damage to healthy tissues and organs, and minimising side effects. Of those 25% who are aware, only one in four have been offered the treatment.
Professor Peter Hoskin, Consultant Clinical Oncologist said, "Brachytherapy is little known among cancer patients despite new technology having developed the practice to an increasingly effective treatment option. With brachytherapy, many people don't have to stay in hospital when they have brachytherapy, or if they do, the time is much less than other options such as surgery."
England Rugby Player, Matt Dawson says: "Having had close family members suffer from cancer, we obviously wanted to find the best possible treatment available, and having easy access to information and learning about our options was a crucial step to helping us deal with the situation. That is why I support the 'Because Life is for Living' campaign which encourages patients and their loved ones to make informed treatment choices".
The 'Because Life is for Living' campaign encourages people with cancer and their carers to enter the new website to source information that along with their doctors can help them make informed treatment choices.
The ICM patient survey showed that men were more likely to be offered the treatment. Four in 10 men were aware of brachytherapy compared to less than 1 in 10 women. Awareness among women needs to be increased because brachytherapy can be as effective in treating female-specific indications like breast and gynaecological cancer as it is in treating prostate cancer in men and with the same minimised side effects. The ICM survey also confirmed that cancer patients frequently access the Internet for treatment information.
"The more information available to patients and their families, the better," added Matt Dawson. "Information about effective treatment options like brachytherapy should be easy to find for anyone dealing with cancer."
King's Hospital Consultant Urologist Mr Rick Popert explains the latest information on prostate cancer diagnostics and treatment options in his plain English articles:
Prostate Cancer Screening – Addressing the dilemma
The Modern Management of Localised Prostate Cancer
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