Roger was diagnosed with prostate cancer after a routine health check (Image: Roger Slater)
Fibre supplements could spare thousands of prostate cancer patients from radiotherapy side effects and make the treatment work better, according to experts. Around 18,000 men who receive the life-saving treatment each year in the UK are at risk of side effects including diarrhoea, bowel bleeding and bladder problems.
Prostate Cancer UK is funding a £660,000 trial to find out whether a common supplement can prevent these nasty effects. Inulin is a fibre supplement derived from plants which supports the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut and can help to reduce inflammation. Lab research in animals also suggests that inulin may boost radiotherapy’s ability to kill cancer cells.
If successful, prescribing the supplements alongside treatment could benefit patients like Roger Slater, 75.
The retired schoolteacher was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March 2020 after a PSA blood test during a routine health review. He had 32 sessions of radiotherapy, alongside hormone injections.
Roger, from Vicars Cross in Chester, said: “When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, it was a shock.
“I feel lucky that I’m now cancer-free, but the side effects from radiotherapy have been hard for me, and I still struggle with them now, even though my treatment finished six years ago.”
The father-of-two suffers from effects including erectile dysfunction and radiotherapy proctitis — damage or inflammation caused by the treatment.
He added: “Having a supplement to reduce the side effects from treatment would have made a huge difference for me. I hope the results of this study are positive so other men don’t have to face the same difficulties I have.”
The DIETRICH trial will recruit around 220 men awaiting treatment for prostate cancer from eight UK cancer centres. Half of the volunteers will have their diets enriched with inulin before, during and after radiotherapy, while the rest take a dummy dose.
Professor Ananya Choudhury, of the University of Manchester, is one of the trial’s lead researchers. She said: “Radiotherapy is an effective treatment for prostate cancer, but can cause men significant problems.
Radiotherapy can be life-saving but has side effects (Image: Getty)
“We’ve already seen exciting early evidence that inulin can reduce side effects in men undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer, so this research has the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of prostate cancer patients.”
More than 64,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in the UK. The disease claims 12,000 lives annually.
Dr Matthew Hobbs, director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, so it’s essential that we are supporting men at every step of their journey, from diagnosis to their lives post-treatment.
“We know that prostate cancer treatment can leave men with debilitating side effects that can last long after treatment. We cannot only focus on treating the cancer, but must also make sure that men have good and comfortable lives after their treatment.
“DIETRICH is an extremely promising study, which could enable men to live longer and better lives without additional treatment and hugely reduce side effects from radiotherapy.”
