Pioneering trial to treat prostate cancer patients gets underway in Devon
The PACE trial is the first of its kind in the South West - and is taking place at Torbay Hospital
Last updated 10th May 2021
A Devon Hospital has become the first in the South West to deliver a pioneering prostate cancer treatment trial.
Known as PACE, it involves the use of a new technique to safely deliver radiotherapy.
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust have now treated their first patient using stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR).
It uses fewer higher doses of radiation and means patients would attend hospital for as little as five visits - as opposed to many more over several weeks.
The Trust say it has taken a lot of hard work by teams in Radiotherapy, Medical Physics and Oncology Research and Development departments, as well as many other staff across the organisation who provided support which made this possible.
Barry Jarvis - the first patient to be treated as part of the trial at Torbay Hospital - said:
"I feel very privileged to be involved with the PACE trial and have appreciated fewer trips to the hospital. I feel that it is important to participate in research to help other patients in the future. The staff in the Oncology department have been fantastic. They have been helpful and reassuring at all times."
The treatment is seen as an excellent alternative to surgery, while facilitating treatment closer to home and avoiding the need for patients to travel as frequently.
The treatment will also increase the Trust’s capacity to treat cancer patients while allowing vulnerable patients to reduce the number of times they visit hospital.
The development of stereotactic radiotherapy has been enabled by the Trust’s investment in modern linear accelerators to deliver this most sophisticated form of radiotherapy.
The Trust is also keen to recognise the support and achievements of Peter Hosking and the Torbay Prostate Support Association (TPSA). Peter was the founding member of the TPSA in 1999 and was named as a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year’s Honours List in recognition of this work.
The TPSA has raised substantial funding that over the years has directly helped and supported patients, and improved prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment at Torbay Hospital.