Prostate cancer: Proton therapy treatment to avoid erectile dysfunction
When Joe Tuftnell, 72, from Hampshire, was diagnosed with prostate cancer, the terror of losing his independence led to him undergoing proton beam therapy in order to cut the chances of him suffering the side effects. Now Joe, who is fully recovered, has set up a support group to help others in his position saying they don’t have to be ‘afraid’ any more. He is urging prostate cancer sufferers to explore all treatment options - saying they don’t have to live with incontinence and erectile dysfunction just because they’ve contracted the UK’s most common male cancer. Joe had a routine blood test which indicated raised PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) levels - a sign his prostate was behaving abnormally. He was sent for a biopsy which revealed he had a cancerous growth on his prostate.
GETTY/EXPRESS Prostate cancer: Joe Tuftnell had proton beam therapy
Joe decided to pay around £20,000 for private proton beam radiotherapy treatment at the Proton Therapy Center in Prague, Czech Republic. He said: “This might sound surprising, but when I was told I had cancer I wasn’t scared. I’d had a wonderful life, a great career, I’d travelled the world and I had everything I ever wanted. “I looked back on my life and thought, ‘You’ve had a jolly good time. These things happen. At my age, you can’t expect to go on forever’. But the more I read about conventional radiotherapy treatment, the less optimistic I was about the long term side-effects. “I’m fiercely independent - I didn’t want to have to suffer from incontinence or erectile problems, and I didn’t want to have to compromise the intimacy I share with my wife. “Now, after proton beam therapy, nothing has changed.
ProtonTherapyCentre Prostate cancer: Joe Tuftnell had proton beam therapy
“I was the same after as before. I don’t have any problems with incontinence or sex. My quality of life is as good as ever.” The prostate is a 3cm long muscular gland located just below the bladder. It sits close to nerves and blood vessels that govern bladder function and erection. Traditional radiation can damage the nerves and blood vessels, and can cause many prostate cancer patients to become impotent. Proton beam therapy uses an accelerated beam of particles to accurately attack cancerous cells, targeting the exact area to within millimetres of the tumours. This treatment means less damage to surrounding tissue and fewer unnecessary side effects.
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I didn't want prostate cancer to affect my sex life Joe Tuftnell
Joe said that because proton beam therapy is not currently available in the UK - although some are referred by the NHS - many patients are simply not aware that it even exists. He said: “I was diagnosed as having prostate cancer in the Autumn of 2012, but my urologist recommended active surveillance - which means doing nothing, waiting to see if the condition worsened. “I was actually visiting Prague at the time. I’d gone into a bar to get some lunch. I was on my own, looking at a newspaper, and I saw an article about the Proton Therapy Center. It was the first I’d heard about it. “The next day, I walked in off the street and went to visit them. I had an initial consultation that week.”
EXPRESS Prostate cancer treatment: Joe has escamped erectile dysfunction following his treatment
Joe said he eventually had treatment in June 2013 and three years later, his PSA levels have reduced from 7.2 to 0.5. He said: “You go for proton beam therapy, and you’re out in a few minutes. In my mind, there was nothing to be afraid of. We’re petitioning GPs and urologists to make them more aware of what proton therapy has to offer, so that they can then pass on that knowledge to their patients. “I want to show people that it works. I’m not trying to persuade anyone, I just want to share my experience.” Dr Jiri Kubes, specialist in prostate carcinoma and medical director at the Proton Therapy Center in Prague, said: “The most important thing for Joe was preserving his vitality after treatment.
EXPRESS Prostate cancer: Joe has set up a group to share his experience