SpaceOAR Vue Hydrogel, a hydrogel spacer is now being offered to patients that undergo radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Mater Private Network is the first hospital in the Republic of Ireland to introduce the original SpaceOAR technology.
The technology is an absorbable, injectable implant that creates space between the prostate and the rectum in men that undergo radiation therapy for prostate cancer. The Hydrogel reduces the exposure of radiation to healthy organs nearby to reduce the side effect of the treatment.
This new clinically proven SpaceOAR Vue Hydrogel provides enhanced values to doctors and patients by enhancing the accuracy and ease of treatment planning. It is designed to aid clinicians in enhancing the accuracy of radiation delivery by reducing the long-term urinary, bowel, and sexual side effects, and protect the quality of life of prostate cancer patients who undergo radiotherapy.
The hydrogel has been used by more than 100,000 patients globally. The treatment has been evaluated for many years and it has been shown to be safe and effective, with patients who were sexually active during the diagnosis time can avoid loss of sexual function after they undergo the therapy and the use of SpaceOAR treatment.
Consultant radiologist at Mater Private Network, Professor Michelle McNicholas, said: “We are always seeking ways to protect the surrounding structures during the radiation therapy. The original SpaceOAR was only visible on MRI, the new SpaceOAR Vue is visible on CT. This is a good development for both doctor and patient. The need for an MRI scan is eliminated in most cases since the new product can be seen through CT reducing time and cost. In addition, the Radiation oncologist can see structures more clearly because the gel can be seen on CT. This enhances treatment planning accuracy with benefits that are glaring regards maximizing prostate treatment safely while reducing the side effects to other structures. SpaceOAR Vue has been fantastic and anyone who has used it can see its effectiveness as regards the precision of radiation doses to patients. The better the precision, the fewer the side effects for the patients.”
