New treatment for prostate cancer will benefit patients - McGimpsey

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey today officially opened the new regional Prostrate Brachytherapy Service at the Belfast City Hospital.

Previous to the establishment of this service in Belfast, patients were required to travel to Leeds for their brachytherapy treatment.

Opening the new service, the Minister said: “Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in Northern Ireland. The new Prostate Brachytherapy Service will have significant benefits for patients.

“This life saving service is as effective in treating prostate cancer as surgery or radiotherapy in men who are suitable for treatment. Brachytherapy treatment takes only one or two days and recovery is quick, with patients being able to return to normal activities soon after treatment.”

Brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy in which delivery of radiation is targeted directly to the prostate gland through the implantation of small radioactive pellets.

Meeting with staff in the cancer centre, the Minister said: “I am very impressed by the quality of this new service, and equally so by the professionalism and enthusiasm of all the staff who work so diligently to enhance the patient experience and improve clinical outcomes.”

The service, which opened to patients in January 2010, was part funded by Men Against Cancer, a charity headed by local businessman Mr Eric Cairns.

Commenting on this contribution, the Minister said: “We in the Health Service greatly value the work that charitable organisations such as Men Against Cancer do in Northern Ireland. This is particularly important in light of the crippling cuts that have been imposed on my Department and the resulting pressures on the Health Service.”

Notes to editors:

1. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, and the second most common cause of cancer related death in men.

2. Approximately 800 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in NI each year. There are approximately 215 deaths from this type of cancer in NI each year.

3. The majority of men with prostate cancer are over 60. The disease is rare in men under 50.

4. Prostate Brachytherapy is a highly effective, minimally invasive treatment for localised prostate cancer. It is a form of radiotherapy in which delivery of radiation is targeted directly to the prostate gland through the implantation of small radioactive pellets. Needles are inserted through the skin of the perineum, delivering the pellets, which give off radiation at a low dose over several weeks or months, remaining in the prostate gland permanently.

5. £250,000 was funded for the development of a prostate brachytherapy service as part of the 2008/09 HWIP allocation to the Belfast Trust. This funding was supplemented by funding from the charity “Men Against Cancer” for the purchase of the equipment.

6. The implementation of this service has had the support, both financially and practically, from the charity Men Against Cancer (MAC). MAC was established in March 2001 by Mr Eric Cairns, a well known business man and former estate agent, with the principal aim of raising funds for the development of men’s cancer services at the Belfast City Hospital, now part of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, and for the advancement of medical research into cancer.

7. Further information on prostate cancer can be found on:nidirect.

8. Media queries to DHSSPS Information Office on 028 90520575, or out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be immediately returned.