23 Dec 2011
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has revealed plans to invest as
much as £150 million in a radiotherapy cancer treatment that uses
proton beams, which could help cancer sufferers to retain their
hearing.
Proton beam therapy (PBT) uses a high-energy beam of particles
to target cancer cells and has been shown to reduce the
side-effects of alternative treatments, which include hearing loss,
loss of mental capacity and secondary cancers.
The therapy is more effective because it
targets tumours directly, meaning it has less chance of damaging
critical tissues. Three sites: the Christie Hospital NHS Foundation
Trust in Manchester, University College London Hospitals and
University Hospitals Birmingham have been identified as potential
providers of the service.
While PBT is currently only available in
Switzerland and the US, Mr Lansley announced recently (December
13th) to the Britain Against Cancer Conference that 1,500 patients
a year will be able to take advantage of the UK-based service. As
well as improving provision of treatment for cancer patients, the
move is expected to reduce the number of people, particularly
children, who need to use hearing aids as a result of the cancer
treatment.
The Health Secretary said the UK's cancer
survival rates have lagged behind those of other comparable
countries for too long. "This investment will ensure that Britain
remains at the cutting edge of the fight against cancer," he added.
"This is great news for patients, as well as for our scientists and
academics who are always looking to push those boundaries
further."
The news also comes as the first annual
report of Improving Outcomes - A Strategy for Cancer was published,
which charts the NHS' progress in its target of saving 5,000 more
lives from cancer by 2014/15.
If you think you may have a hearing loss why not take our
online hearing check questionnaire or make an
appointment to have a hearing test at your nearest
Amplifon branch.
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