A Glasgow hospital has become the first in Scotland to use a shielding gel to reduce the impact of radiotherapy in men with prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer affects one in ten men in Scotland, and one of the options to treat it is high dose radiotherapy to target the cancer cells. However, the procedure can also damage adjacent organs.

Oncologists at the Nuffield Health Glasgow hospital are now offering patients SpaceOAR Hydrogel, a water-based gel that can be injected to create a 1 cm protective space between the prostate and rectum ahead of radiotherapy treatment, reducing exposure of nearby healthy tissue to the radiation.

The hydrogel layer then stays in place for around three months before being reabsorbed and flushed out in the patient’s urine.

Following a review by NICE, the procedure has been available in English NHS hospitals.

Nuffield Health Glasgow hospital says it has been receiving referrals for NHS patients in Scotland.

Dr Abdulla Alhasso, Clinical Oncologist at Nuffield Health Glasgow Hospital says the technique can be used as part of a day case treatment:

“SpaceOAR Hydrogel is a major step forward to improve on the quality of radiation therapy for prostate cancer patients. It can help to significantly reduce the toxicities associated with prostate radiotherapy and thus improves on the therapeutic ratio and quality of life.

“This significantly positive impact, together with the simplicity of the insertion procedure ,make it a very attractive strategy for both prostate cancer patients as well as for the treating physicians to consider.

“SpaceOAR Hydrogel is another step forward and a higher level of technology that adds additional value to this technique as it is designed to improve on the accuracy of imaging during planning and subsequent treatment.”

Director at the Nuffield Health Glasgow hospital, Julie Campbell says she is pleased that the team has been able to bring the innovative approach to Scotland:

“We are proud to be the first independent hospital to offer SpaceOAR Hydrogel to prostate cancer patients in Scotland, as part of a wider radiotherapy treatment plan.

“Over 100,000 SpaceOAR Hydrogel treatments have been provided worldwide, with positive good outcomes for patients with reduced side-effects, including bowel, urinary and sexual problems.”

In response to enquiries from patients and colleagues about the procedure, Dr Alhasso, and colleague, Consultant Urological Surgeon Mr Imran Ahmad, are to hold a free online patient event on Thursday 17th June.

Event link: https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/glasgow#events

 

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