At a Glance
Age alone should never determine your prostate cancer treatment options. Many men over 70 are fit, active, and have decades of healthy life ahead. At The Focal Therapy Clinic, we assess every patient individually based on their health, cancer characteristics, and personal goals — not their date of birth. Minimally invasive focal therapies such as HIFU (NICE-approved, IPG424) offer effective treatment with same-day discharge and rapid recovery.
Key takeaways:
- Age bias is real — many men over 70 report being steered towards active surveillance or hormone therapy without being offered all treatment options
- Fitness matters more than age — biological age and overall health are better predictors of treatment outcomes than chronological age
- Minimally invasive options exist — focal therapy allows older men to treat their cancer as a day-case procedure with 85% returning to normal activities within two weeks
- Second opinions save lives — if you feel dismissed, seeking a second opinion from a specialist centre can reveal options you were not offered
Age should never be the sole reason a man is denied prostate cancer treatment. Yet many men over 70 report being steered towards active surveillance or hormone therapy without being offered the full range of options — including minimally invasive focal therapy, which is NICE-approved and suitable for many older men.
Investigations by The Times and The Guardian have documented how the NHS has systematically under-served older patients. At The Focal Therapy Clinic, our own patients have reported being discriminated against due to their age in very specific ways.
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Is Age Discrimination a Real Problem in Prostate Cancer Care?
Yes. Many men over 70 are denied curative prostate cancer treatment based on age alone, rather than on their actual fitness, cancer grade, or personal treatment goals. At The Focal Therapy Clinic, we regularly see patients who have been steered towards observation or hormone-only approaches without being offered minimally invasive alternatives such as HIFU (NICE-approved, IPG424) or NanoKnife IRE (NICE-approved, IPG768).
In our clinic’s experience treating over 2,000 patients, many men come to us because they have felt dismissed, abandoned, and even actively discriminated against in their prostate cancer care within the NHS — all of which they attribute to their age.
“Not every patient is suitable for focal therapy, and we’re transparent about that. We assess every referral carefully with mpMRI and targeted biopsy before recommending treatment — but a patient’s age alone should never disqualify them.”
Two parallel realities have emerged. In one, some healthcare providers assume men over 70 are nearing the end of their lives. In the other — far more reflective of modern Britain — men over 70 are living full, active lives: engaged in sport, travel, family, and community. These men are not willing to compromise their quality of life because of a prostate cancer diagnosis.
Our patients tell us that they are fitter and more focused now than they have ever been. For them, their experience of ageing is that “70 is the new 50“. Yet they are consistently denied the treatment they deserve.
NHS Backlogs and Prostate Cancer Treatment for Older Men?
NHS backlogs and reduced resources have left many men caught between undertreatment — such as indefinite active surveillance or Watchful Waiting — and overtreatment with hormone therapy that may not match their actual cancer risk or quality-of-life goals and does not consider the risks of hormone therapy for quality of life.
There is a significant disconnect between what fit, active men over 70 expect from their healthcare and what the NHS currently offers. Prostate cancer affects many men and is something they may live with for years, making awareness of all available treatment options essential.
Minimally invasive focal therapy offers a middle path. In our clinic’s audit of 265 patients, 97% maintained full urinary continence and 90%+ preserved sexual function following treatment. These outcomes demonstrate that effective cancer treatment does not have to mean compromising quality of life — regardless of age.
| Approach | Typical Use for Over-70s | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Active surveillance | Monitoring without treatment | Cancer may progress; causes anxiety |
| Hormone therapy | Slows cancer growth | Side effects: fatigue, weight gain, bone thinning |
| Focal therapy (HIFU/NanoKnife) | Treats the tumour while preserving healthy tissue | Not suitable for all cancer types; requires specialist assessment |
Source: NICE guidelines NG131, FTC one-year outcome audit (n=265)
What Should You Do If You Feel Dismissed Because of Your Age?
If you have been told you are “too old” for prostate cancer treatment, or have only been offered active surveillance or hormone therapy without a full discussion of alternatives, you have the right to seek a second opinion. At The Focal Therapy Clinic, we assess every patient based on their overall health, cancer characteristics, and treatment goals — not their age.
Modern medicine increasingly recognises that biological age matters far more than chronological age. Men over 70 who are fit and active may have decades of healthy life ahead. NICE guideline NG131 on prostate cancer management does not set an upper age limit for curative treatment — treatment decisions should be based on individual patient assessment.
Steps to take:
- Request your MRI results — ask your GP or urologist for a copy of your mpMRI and biopsy reports
- Seek a second opinion — our consultant urological surgeons review all referrals at no obligation
- Ask about focal therapy — NICE-approved treatments such as HIFU (IPG424) and NanoKnife IRE (IPG768) are available as day-case procedures at our seven UK locations
- Consider your quality of life — our patient data shows 85% of men return to normal activities within two weeks of focal therapy
Contact us to book a no-obligation consultation or call +44 (0) 207 036 8870.
