New Prostate Cancer technology improves cancer care in Leeds
14 July 2020
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will be one of the first trusts in the North of England to revolutionise their prostate biopsy service for men with suspected prostate cancer.
A dedicated ultrasound machine and bespoke procedure chair has been purchased for Leeds thanks to collaborative funding between the Trust, West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance - The Optimal Pathways Fund.
The new equipment will enable patients to get the best prostate biopsies at the earliest opportunity, significantly reducing the risk of infection, and allow more extensive and accurate biopsies of the prostate gland, thereby aiming to reduce the number of biopsies required in the future. By offering this procedure, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) will meet and surpass NICE guidelines and offer Gold Standard care, placing the trust on a par with other leading centres such as Guys and St Thomas’s Hospital in London.
Consultant Urologist Bill Cross, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said:
“Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in England [1], and prostate cancer diagnostics have seen radical changes over recent years.
The new Transperineal Biopsy to be offered in Leeds from July will ensure our patients get the best possible biopsy at the earliest opportunity, streamlining patient care and ensuring we have a greater depth of understanding of an individual’s disease.”
The purchase of the ultrasound machine and dedicated procedure chair was a result of an intensive ‘Prostate Pathway Improvement Week’ held in March 2019 – a week dedicated to improving care and the experience of the patient as they journey through the pathway. The drive to offer TP biopsies as standard for all men needing a prostate biopsy was championed by Consultant Radiologist Olly Hulson and Consultant Urologist Bill Cross. They identified this procedure as a way of improving care to almost a thousand men who undergo prostate biopsies in LTHT each year.
Previously, the vast majority of biopsies were performed via the transrectal route. Although this was adequate for most patients, the risk of infection using this technique was not insignificant, and it could also make targeting certain areas of the gland difficult. Transperineal (TP) biopsy allows samples to be taken through the skin overlying the prostate, allowing the operator to access to all parts of the gland, and also significantly reduces the risk of infection.
The trust plan to start implementing the procedure and transforming their prostate biopsy service later this year.
Leeds Cancer Programme is a partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support, the NHS in Leeds and Leeds City Council to transform cancer services across the city. Through its dynamic and ambitious strategy, it is committed to delivering the best outcomes for all in Leeds through world class cancer services shaped by patients, carers and the wider public.
