The Hydrogel Perirectal Spacer procedure helps reduce tissue exposure to the surrounding healthy organs, offering protection for patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer.
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Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the UK, with over 40,000 new cases diagnosed annually. The survival rate for prostate cancer is high, with over 85% of men surviving for 5+ years, largely due to early diagnosis and improved treatments. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you may be considering radiation therapy for treatment.
Standard treatment plans involve delivering high-dose radiotherapy, designed to destroy cancer cells and prevent further spread. Due to the prostate being close to other organs and tissues, such as the rectum, there is a risk of long-term damage and side effects including rectal pain, bowel and urinary leakage and sometimes erectile dysfunction.
The Hydrogel Perirectal Spacer procedure helps reduce tissue exposure to the surrounding healthy organs, offering protection for patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer.
The SpaceOAR hydrogel is inserted into the cavity between the prostate and rectum, creating about 1cm of space, allowing an oncologist to deliver radiation to the prostate and reduce exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.
SpaceOAR is the only prostate-rectum spacing device to be supported by a 222-patient randomised control trial and over 250,000 implants worldwide, demonstrating a 70%+ reduction in risk of rectal toxicity (damage to rectum during radiotherapy).
As a day case procedure, the treatment itself is minimally invasive and takes around 15–20 minutes. The procedure can be carried out under general or local anesthesia, depending on your preference.
The hydrogel is inserted via a fine needle into the space between the prostate and rectum, under anesthesia, filling the cavity between the prostate and rectum to create space.
After three months, the gel is naturally absorbed and will be broken down by the body.
As with any procedure, there is a small chance of complications. Specific complications can include:
● inflammatory reactions
● pain or discomfort from the injection
● infection
● rectal mucosal damage, ulcers, bleeding, constipation and rectal urgency
All of these complications are very rare, affecting less than 3% of all patients. Our team will do their best to minimise any risks, and advise to discuss any concerns you have about these complications with your consultant or healthcare professional.
You can schedule a consultation with our experienced urological and oncological specialists to explore your options and discuss the pathway for a hydrogel spacer procedure before beginning radiotherapy.
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