Prostate Cancer Services
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Prostate Cancer Services
Radiotherapy can be used in various ways to treat different stages of prostate cancer.
At Nottingham City Hospital we offer External Beam Radiotherapy to treat the prostate itself (this generally includes the seminal vesicles which are two glands that sit behind the prostate and bladder that produce some of the fluid in semen), the prostate bed (if the prostate has been removed) and the pelvic lymph nodes.
We can also use Radiotherapy to help to control symptoms if the prostate cancer has spread to the bones.
We have included links to information that you may find useful in the tabs below, including more information on Radiotherapy, Hormone Therapy, potential side effects and how to manage them, as well as some contacts for support and advice.
Prostate Cancer Treatment Information
Prostate Cancer Treatments
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy | Prostate Cancer UK
External Beam Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer Leaflet
External beam radiotherapy | Prostate Cancer UK
LDR Brachytherapy
Permanent seed brachytherapy | Prostate Cancer UK
HDR Brachytherapy
How to Reduce Side Effects
Waterworks and Bowels: Useful Links
Pelvic Floor Exercises: Pelvic floor muscle exercises | Prostate Cancer UK
The Squeezy App: What are pelvic floor exercises, A cue for men... - Squeezy (squeezyapp.com)
Bladder Training Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14OSCEA0Fgk
Confidence App: www.confidenceapp.uk
Diet and Exercise
Diet and physical activity for men with prostate cancer | Prostate Cancer UK
Fatigue
Feeling tired | Prostate Cancer UK
Managing Hormone Therapy Side Effects
Side effects of hormone therapy | Prostate Cancer UK
Sex and Relationships
Sex and relationships | Prostate Cancer UK
Prostate cancer tests and treatment: A guide for gay and bisexual men | Prostate Cancer UK
Emotional support
Dealing with emotional impact of prostate cancer | Prostate Cancer UK
Friends and Bredrins Prostate Cancer Support Group
Find a local prostate cancer support group
Practical Support
Practical things | Prostate Cancer UK
General Prostate Cancer Information
Radiotherapy Timeline
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Hormones and pre-radiotherapy timeline (timeline is for guidance only and may differ for individual patients).
Not all patients will require hormone therapy. |
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|---|---|
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Day 1 |
Start bicalutamide tablets – 28 day course Ensure you have an out-patient appointment for week 2 |
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Week 2 |
First decapeptyl injection – 12 weekly injection Ensure you make an appointment at your GP surgery to have your next injection in 12 weeks’ time. |
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Week 4 |
Complete bicalutamide tablets– no more needed |
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Around 1-2 months |
Pre-radiotherapy information group session Session delivered at Nottingham Radiotherapy Centre, Nottingham City Hospital |
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Around 2-3 months |
Radiotherapy planning CT scan You may also have an MRI scan which is performed on the same day. Planning scans are used purely to plan the radiotherapy treatment and are not used to assess your cancer. |
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Around 3 months |
Second decapeptyl injection - given at GP surgery The duration of your hormone injections will be confirmed by your oncology team. |
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Around 2-4 months |
Start radiotherapy treatment |
Useful Information
Preparing for Radiotherapy to the Prostate or Prostate Bed
Patient Leaflet - Preparing for Radiotherapy (Prostate)
Radiotherapy Planning Scan
(Link to prostate pre-treat video)
Radiotherapy Treatment
(link to prostate treatment video)
Meet the Prostate Cancer Services Team
Clinical Oncologist - Dr JunHao Lim
Dr Lim tr ained here at NUHand qualified as a Clinical Oncologist in 2022
Clinical Oncologist - Dr Louise Brookes
Dr Brookes trained at NUH and qualified as a Clinical Oncologist in 2018.
Clinical Oncologist - Dr Jamie Mills
Dr Mills has been Clinical Oncologist for 14 years.
Clinical Oncologist - Dr Sundar Santhanam
Dr S Sundar is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist with more than 25 years clinical experience.
Dr Sundar passed the UK General Medical Council exams in 1996 and United States Medical Licensure exams (USMLE) in 1995 and in 1997, registered to the Membership of Royal College of Physicians.
In 2001, Dr Sundar gained the Fellowship of Royal College of Radiologists (Clinical Oncology) and MSc (Oncology) degree from University of Nottingham.
The following year, in 2002, Dr Sundar obtained European Certificate in Medical Oncology.
A list of Dr Sundar's academic publications can be found here.
Dr Sundar is a member of following professional societies:
- American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO),
- American Association for Cancer Research (AACR),
- American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO),
- European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) &
- European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO).
Dr Sundar is on the Clinical Advisory Board for Infopool, an information source created by Prostate Cancer Research, a registered charity in England and Wales (1156027).
Clinical Oncologist - Dr Georgina Walker
Dr Walker trained at Nottingham 2000-2005 and achieved her BMBs BMedSci. She has trained in Oncology since 2009 and been a Consultant since 2014.
Since graduation, Dr Walker has achieved MRCP, MSc (Honours), FRCR
Consultant Radiographer - Mr Guy (Gayan) Chetiyawardana
Mr Chetiyawardana qualified as a therapeutic radiographer in 2005 with a BSc (Hons) Radiotherapy from Bristol, University of the West of England. He achieved a Postgraduate Certificate in Independent Non-medical prescribing in 2017 from the University of Hertfordshire.
In 2019, he achieved his MSc in Advancing Professional Practice from Sheffield Hallam University and achieved a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychosexual medicine in 2023 from the Institute of Psychosexual Medicine.
I have a keen interest in improving radiotherapy practice and was an expert advisor and panel member for the National Institute of Clinical Evidence for the prostate cancer guidelines in 2019 and 2021.
I am a working group member for the Royal College of Radiologists working on national standardisation of prostate radiotherapy consent forms and best practice guidelines for image guided radiotherapy.
I am also the co-chair of the Society of Radiographers prostate Special Interest Group and facilitate and organises national study days to share prostate research.
I have a strong interest in research, primarily in reducing radiotherapy side effects and technical improvements in its delivery. I also have had specialist training in managing sexual dysfunction secondary to cancer treatment.
Advanced Practitioner - Leanne Alder
Leanne has worked as a prostate advanced practitioner since 2021 and has covered clinics at both Nottingham City Hospital and Kings Mill Hospital.
Prior to this, Leanne worked as a research radiographer coordinating many ground breaking clinical trials which have helped to shape the treatments that we have available for prostate cancer today.
Leanne has recently completed an MSc in Prostate Cancer Care and qualified as an Independent Non-Medical Prescriber.
Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialists
Hanna and Angela provide support, advice and education to patients and carers and work as a part of multi-disciplinary team.
Hanna Purves
Hanna has been a cancer nurse since 1998 and her experience includes various roles from chemotherapy nurse to Research Nurse and Research Matron. She has been working as an Oncology-Urology Clinical nurse specialist from July 2017. She completed the Non-Medical Prescribing Course at the University of Nottingham in 2022.
Angela Waldron
Angela has been a cancer nurse since 1998 and her experience includes various roles from chemotherapy nurse to ward manager, Acute Oncology specialist nurse and Clinical Educator. She has been working as an Oncology-Urology Clinical nurse specialist from July 2017. She completed the Non-Medical Prescribing Course at the University of Nottingham in 2019.