Prostate cancer treatment available at CUH

A highly effective treatment for prostate cancer that means just one trip to hospital, minimal side effects and costs 20% of the cost of surgery is now available in Cork.

Until this autumn, 30 or 40 patients from Cork travelled to Dublin or Galway each year for brachytherapy.

However following a €1.5m investment by the National Cancer Control Programme and a €500,000 donation by CUH’s Aid Cancer Treatment charity, it is now available to men with early stage prostate cancer at CUH’s Cancer Centre.

Brachytherapy is a type of cancer treatment where radioactive seeds are put into the prostate gland.

Unlike radiotherapy, which takes place over eight weeks, this is a one-off procedure and has minimal side effects, urinary irritation at most.

The first patient to receive brachytherapy in Cork was Ad Matthysse, a 58-year-old from Durrus in Bantry. His father had prostate cancer and so when he was diagnosed with a high PSA level, he actively sought a biopsy.

Early onset non-aggressive prostate cancer was diagnosed. But Ad didn’t want to have prostate surgery as it is a complex operation, lasts six hours and can lead to impotence and incontinence.

So when he heard that a brachytherapy option was available in Galway, he had initial scans at Galway University Hospital to confirm his suitability.

In the meantime, the brachytherapy service became available in Cork and last August, he was its first patient.

“This treatment is incredible if I compare it to what my wife, Manya went through with her breast cancer.

“The operation took just 90 minutes and I was in my bed that night,” he said.

“I’ve had little or no side effects since. I might feel tired around 4pm in the afternoon but that’s it really.

“Men are afraid of prostate cancer but they shouldn’t be. Don’t put your head in the sand as a treatment like this is fantastic but is only available to those who catch the cancer early.”

One month after the insertion of the radioactive seeds, the patient returns to CUH for a CAT scan and then a further scan six months later.

This will determine the success or failure of the seeds but in low-risk prostate cancer, after brachytherapy treatment, a patient’s likelihood of being cancer free 10 year’s on is 90%.

Consultant radiation oncologist, Paul Kelly says brachytherapy is most often used for low-risk, non-aggressive prostate cancer but can be combined with radiotherapy or hormonal therapy

“It has minimal side effects and also only costs €1,800 per patient compared to up to €8,000 for an operation. We’re delighted to have it here in Cork so we can provide more options to the patient,” said Dr Kelly.