NICE denies cryotherapy treatment for prostate cancer

28/02/2008

Hundreds of patients on waiting lists for the minimally invasive treatment of cryotherapy for prostate cancer will be denied this choice following a decision by NICE, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence.

Cryotherapy is based on the science of freezing at very cold temperatures which kills cancerous cells and the new NICE guideline on prostate cancer restricts patients from having access to this treatment which had previously been allowed under NICE guidelines published in 2005.  The treatment has been approved by the European Association of Urologists and is widely available in the USA.
 
The new guidelines state that cryotherapy cannot be used for localised or locally advanced prostate cancer other than in the context of controlled clinical trials.
 
Anthony Purvis who was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago at the age of 65 and is now free of the disease following treatment with cryotherapy, is disappointed that the new NICE guidance will prevent other men from benefiting from this treatment.

He said “I am horrified that the new guideline drops cryotherapy from the approved list of primary and salvage treatments as an option for people like me, especially when it is available elsewhere in Europe and the USA. To argue that there is insufficient data to justify its retention is unbelievable; just look at me and thousands of other cancer survivors in the UK and USA. It may well be part of a financial cost cutting agenda.

"The NHS risks becoming a second class service.”
 
Professor Damian Greene, Consultant Surgical Urologist from the Sunderland Royal Hospital, who treated Anthony, said: "These guidelines put the Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) into a very difficult position - they will now very likely stop funding what is internationally seen as the treatment of choice for radiation-failed prostate cancer and a viable option for primary treatment in prostate cancer patients."
 
Other stakeholders have expressed outrage at NICE’s decision, including Mr John Davies, Consultant Urological Surgeon from the Royal Surrey County Hospital and
St Luke’s Cancer Centre in Guildford, who has advised NICE previously regarding cryosurgery treatment for prostate cancer.  He said “I remain committed to cryotherapy as a treatment and I am surprised by NICE’s U-turn.  My fear is that that once again British patients will suffer because of cost cutting.”
 
The announcement comes just ahead of the Prostate Cancer Charity’s annual Awareness Week (10th -16th March). NICE’s decision is in stark contrast to the objectives of the week to raise awareness of the condition and secure funds for further research and treatment.  Patient groups are also likely to take a dim view of these new restrictive guidelines.
 
Each year nearly 33,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 10,000 die from it.  It has become the most common cancer in men and mainly affects men over the age of 50.