At this year’s BAUN25 conference held in Edinburgh, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Urology Claire Deering delivered a compelling presentation titled “The Prostate Cancer Treatment Nurses Aren’t Talking About but Should Be!”. Chaired by Donna Higgins, Lead Urology Nurse, the session spotlighted the often-overlooked treatment option of brachytherapy and the critical role nurses play in guiding patient decisions. Both Claire and Donna work at the Royal Surrey Cancer Centre in Guildford, where they champion patient-centred care in urological oncology. Watch Claire’s presentation from BAUN 25.

Nurses’ Role in Patient Choice
Claire began by emphasising how nurses are uniquely positioned to support patients through complex treatment decisions. In prostate cancer care, where multiple NICE-approved options exist, nurses act as educators, advocates, and emotional supports. Claire stressed that empowering patients means presenting balanced information and helping them align treatment choices with their personal values and lifestyle.

What Is LDR Brachytherapy?
LDR Brachytherapy, also known as internal radiotherapy, involves placing very small titanium radioactive sources directly into the prostate gland. This allows for highly targeted treatment with minimal impact on surrounding tissues when compared to all forms of external radiation therapy. Claire explained the procedure in detail, highlighting its precision and relatively short recovery time.

Does It Work?
Yes—and thewith over 30 years of data to backs it up. Claire presented evidence showing that brachytherapy offers excellent long-term cancer control, particularly for patients with low- to favourable intermediate-risk prostate cancer. She noted that outcomes are comparable to surgery and external beam radiotherapy such as SBRT, with the added benefit of being less invasive when compared to prostate surgery.

Outcomes Compared to Other NICE-Approved Treatment Options
Claire provided a comparative overview of NICE-approved treatments, showing where brachytherapy fits in. While surgery may be preferred for certain patients, brachytherapy offers similar efficacy with fewer side effects and a quicker return to normal activities. The key takeaway: it’s a viable option that deserves more attention in clinical conversations.

Quality of Life
Quality of life is often the deciding factor for patients. Claire shared both clinical data and patient stories that illustrated how brachytherapy can enable most men to retain their erections with urinary incontinence being a rare occurrence when can lead to fewer urinary and sexual side effects compared to other treatments. She encouraged nurses to initiate these discussions early, ensuring patients understand the full spectrum of outcomes.

Where is it available
Access to LDR brachytherapy is readily available throughout Scotland, England, and Ireland, with several cancer centres offering this treatment as part of their prostate cancer care pathways. Claire highlighted the importance of raising awareness among healthcare professionals to ensure patients across the UK and Ireland are informed about this option early in their decision-making process.

Questions
The session wrapped up with a dynamic Q&A, where attendees engaged in thoughtful discussion around the broader implications of brachytherapy and its place in prostate cancer care. Claire and Donna emphasised the value of multidisciplinary collaboration and continuous professional development to support informed, patient-centred treatment decisions.

Why LDR Brachytherapy?
LDR Brachytherapy stands out as a highly effective treatment option for prostate cancer across all risk groups, whether used alone or in combination with hormone therapy and/or external beam radiotherapy. Its suitability for younger patients, cost-effectiveness, and improved side effect profile make it a compelling choice. As the only minimally invasive treatment with NICE endorsement, brachytherapy deserves to be part of every treatment conversation. It should be routinely discussed and offered to newly diagnosed patients—ensuring they have access to all viable options and the opportunity to make truly informed decisions about their care.

Claire Deering’s presentation at BAUN25 was a powerful call to action: it’s time for nurses to talk more openly about brachytherapy and advocate for its place in prostate cancer treatment. At the Royal Surrey Cancer Centre, Claire and Donna continue to lead by example—putting patient choice and quality of life at the heart of their practice.
LDR Brachytherapy Patient Information Card.

We understand that describing the procedure without materials may be difficult for the patient to understand, so we developed a patient seed card to show what is implanted with links to charities and treatment centres.

>Learn more about the Patient Seed Card.

Download a copy of the presentation