I HAVE recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer and am about to commence radiotherapy at Poole Hospital.

I had been encouraged by an article from the Daily Mail regarding focused radiotherapy, a new therapy where tiny gold beads are placed into the prostate before radiotherapy treatment, to guide doctors and help them target the tumour accurately.

The article was very positive as it appears this treatment considerably reduces the side effects and can reduce the number of radiotherapy sessions required.

Unfortunately, the local NHS foundation trust has decided not to fund this treatment despite, it appears, the clinical specialists being keen to us it.

This is very disappointing to know that local cancer sufferers are being denied what is obviously a significantly improved treatment.

The foundation trust is clearly lagging behind the 30-plus other foundation trusts already offering this treatment.

It is very sad that a postcode lottery can affect what treatments are available to patients.

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