Men with a susceptibility to prostate cancer: implications of family history in PCa risk-prediction

Incorporation of family history (FH) status into prostate cancer (PCa) risk stratification has the potential to underpin many aspects of PCa care. This group of men presents a unique challenge in early cancer detection, particularly given that most men without...

Visual-estimation (cognitive), image-fusion (software) and in-bore targeted prostate biopsy: is there an optimal approach?

The diagnostic superiority of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) prior to targeted and systematic prostate biopsy over systematic transrectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) biopsy alone in the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) has been proven by multiple level 1 studies...

Update on immunotherapy for non-muscle invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

Patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) that have failed Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) treatment are a difficult group to treat, and many may not be suitable for the preferred treatment option of radical cystectomy. Bladder-preserving treatments for BCG-unresponsive high-risk...

PROFILE study seeks to find out why black men develop prostate cancer at twice the rate of other men

A first-of-its-kind study in the UK is aiming to solve the mystery of why black men develop prostate cancer at twice the rate of other men. Funded by Prostate Cancer UK in partnership with Movember, the PROFILE study will look...

Focal therapy trials

Men with localised prostate cancer have traditionally required whole gland treatment involving radical prostatectomy or radical radiation treatment, independent of disease location and size. Increasing evidence supports the use of active treatment only in those men diagnosed with prostate cancer...

Establishing a new TPPBx service during the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 had a major impact on our hospital services from early in the pandemic, with almost three times as many patients being ventilated compared to the normal ITU capacity at the beginning of April. During the build-up to this point,...

Penile cancer: a practical approach

Penile cancer is rare and accounts for less than 1% of all new cancer cases in males in the UK, with around 640 new cases diagnosed every year [1]. In England and Wales, the annual incidence is between 1.2 and...

COVID-19 cuts prostate cancer referrals in half

Charity warns that 3500 men risk being diagnosed with incurable cancer as referrals drop to lowest in 10 years Urgent referrals for urological cancers have dropped by half in England (49.5%) compared to the same period last year as the...

OCERT: a new multi-specialty project to standardise robotic surgical training

Since its introduction by Dr William Osler in 1890 to the Board of Trustees at John Hopkins Hospital [1], the Halstedian ‘See one, do one, teach one’ has represented a guideline for surgeons worldwide, both for open and laparoscopic surgery,...

The Re-humanising Revolution: Breaking the conspiracy of silence

Over the last few years, the mental and emotional wellbeing of those who work in medicine has come under scrutiny. The author introduces a new resource. Working in healthcare has always been stressful but never more so than today. In...

Perspectives on the 9th Worldwide Robotic Surgery Event 

I was honoured to be invited again to participate in this year’s Worldwide Robotic Surgery Event (WRSE). Taking place in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic, when medical meetings and congresses have been cancelled, training disrupted and health systems...

Post-prostatectomy incontinence

Urinary incontinence following prostate surgery (post-prostatectomy incontinence or PPI) is a significant complication that can have a profoundly negative impact on the quality of life of patients suffering with it. It may become a barrier to physical activity and social...