Thousands of men suffering from prostate cancer in the UK are being denied access to focal therapy, a 'quality of life-preserving' treatment, by the National Health Service (NHS). This non-invasive treatment, introduced to the UK in 2006, specifically targets cancerous cells while meticulously avoiding damage to surrounding healthy tissue. A significant benefit of focal therapy is its dramatic reduction in the risk of severe side effects such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction, which can affect up to 20 percent of men undergoing traditional cancer treatments like radiotherapy or conventional surgery. Furthermore, focal therapy is considerably more cost-effective, with patients typically discharged within a day and requiring less follow-up care.

Despite its proven advantages, focal therapy remains rarely available on the NHS, even though an estimated 15,000 men could potentially benefit from it annually. Only a limited number of specialist centres, predominantly located in London, currently offer this innovative treatment. Doctors have raised serious concerns that most patients are not even informed about focal therapy as an option, leading many to endure life-changing side effects from more invasive procedures. Out of approximately 60,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, only a mere 600 to 700 are believed to be offered this treatment. In stark contrast, it is widely available privately, with an average cost of £16,000.

Former Prime Minister David Cameron notably opted for private focal therapy after his prostate cancer diagnosis, a decision influenced by his wife Samantha, who urged him to get a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test after hearing a radio interview on symptoms. An Imperial College London study has demonstrated that focal therapy is just as effective as surgery, but with a significantly lower incidence of side effects. The study revealed that only one in 20 patients experienced side effects like incontinence after focal therapy, compared to six in ten who underwent traditional surgeries.

Professor Hashim Ahmed, chair of urology at Imperial College London and instrumental in introducing focal therapy to the UK, strongly asserts that men with prostate cancer have a fundamental right to be informed about focal therapy as a viable alternative to surgery, radiotherapy, and active surveillance. He voiced his frustration, stating that after 20 years, the adoption of focal therapy within the NHS has not progressed despite significant technological advancements. Professor Ahmed highlighted cases where NHS cancer centres offer only surgery or radiotherapy as main options, neglecting to mention focal therapy. Patients who then research the treatment themselves and inquire about it are often dismissed with claims that it is 'not proven' or 'not recommended', sometimes having to actively 'fight for' a referral.

Professor Ahmed has urged the NHS to expand the availability of this treatment across more hospitals. There are three principal forms of focal therapy: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), which employs ultrasound waves to generate heat and destroy cancer cells; irreversible electroporation, which targets tumours with electrical pulses to kill cells, notably utilizing a technology called NanoKnife; and cryotherapy, which uses extreme cold to freeze and eradicate cancerous cells. Professor Ahmed lauded the introduction of NanoKnife as 'genuinely game-changing'. However, Lord Cameron was among a very small cohort of only 175 patients nationwide who received NanoKnife treatment last year. The NHS, in its defense, has stated that 'current guidance notes limited evidence on the effectiveness of cryotherapy and high-intensity focused ultrasound'.