Prostate Cancer: How to Prevent

If you are diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer, you may be eligible for stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) treatment.

Compared to traditional radiotherapy that requires daily treatments of between 37 to 39 sessions, which can last up to two months, SBRT delivers radiation over a much shorter period (2-3 times shorter) and can be completed within five sessions. This enables patients to return back to work and normal activities more quickly (in nearly half the time).

"This is due to improvement in technology that allows for better imaging of the prostate, faster and more precise radiation delivery," said Dr Li Youquan, Consultant from the Division of Radiation Oncology at National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), a member of the SingHealth group.

Recent studies also confirmed that SBRT is as effective as traditional techniques with a promise of reduced side effects such as rectal bleeding and sexual dysfunction¹.

Since 2014, over 100 patients from NCCS have been treated with SBRT with good clinical outcomes and a favorable toxicity profile. The treatment is currently being tested in two large randomised control trials in the United States and United Kingdom and could replace traditional treatments as the new standard^2,3.

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