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Prostate gel spacer reduces bowel and bladder damage

BBC Alan Clarke from Bristol is the first NHS patient to have the gel implantedBBC
Alan Clarke is the first NHS patient to have the gel implanted

A man with prostate cancer is the first NHS patient in the UK to have a device implanted which can reduce the side effects of radiotherapy by 70%.

The liquid gel spacer increases the distance between the prostate and rectum to reduce the amount of radiation absorbed during treatment.

It is injected before treatment and stays in place during radiation therapy before being naturally absorbed.

The treatment will now be rolled out to 12 hospitals around the UK.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with more than 40,000 new cases diagnosed in England each year.

When it is caught early enough, radiotherapy can be highly effective.

High-energy X-rays are targeted at the prostate, killing cancer cells and preventing them from spreading.

However, due to close proximity, nearby healthy organs can be affected resulting in side effects including rectal bleeding, erectile dysfunction, bowel and bladder damage.

Diagram showing prostate gland with gel implant
The liquid gel spacer increases the distance between the prostate and rectum to reduce the amount of radiation absorbed

Alan Clarke, from Bristol, first had radiotherapy in 2011 but the cancer returned.

He was selected to be the first NHS patient to receive the spacer because he was considered to be more at risk of suffering side effects from a second course of radiotherapy.

Two syringes mix together the gel so that once injected, it sets within seconds.

Prof Amit Bahl, consultant oncologist at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, said: "The space we have created means the rectum will not get the toxicity from the radiotherapy.

"In radiotherapy terms this small space will make a huge difference to the patient's quality of life in the long term."

Dr Sam Roberts, director of innovation and life sciences for NHS England, said: "In studies, its use has been shown to relatively reduce life-changing side effects, such as rectal pain, bleeding and diarrhoea, by over 70%, meaning significant improvements in quality of life for those battling prostate cancer."

Professor Amit Bahl, Consultant Oncologist at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
The spacer reduces life-changing effects of radiation therapy such as rectal pain and erectile dysfunction
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Prostate Cancer: What are the symptoms?

There can be few symptoms of prostate cancer in the early stages, and because of its location most of these are linked to urination:

  • needing to urinate more often, especially at night
  • needing to run to the toilet
  • difficulty in starting to urinate
  • weak urine flow or taking a long time while urinating
  • feeling your bladder has not emptied fully.