Specialist kit to help identify prostate cancer

The ultrasound and MRI machine cost £180,000

Specialist equipment to help to identify cases of prostate cancer will have a "significant impact" on the quality of services provided, Manx Care has said.

Mannin Cancers Support Group have raised £180,000 for the ultrasound and MRI machine, with the Tevir Group sponsoring its maintenance for three years.

The health care body said it would allow the team to "pinpoint cancerous lesions", which would make it easier to locate the area to take a biopsy from.

Julie Stokes from the charity said the kit would "save many patients from having to travel to the UK for the diagnosis and staging" of the disease.

'Significant impact'

Following testing and formal training for staff, services using the transperineal prostate biopsy ultrasound and MRI fusion machine began on 3 July at Noble's Hospital.

The procedure combines the two methods of scanning to accurately take a sample from the prostate gland, which can then be checked for cancer.

Manx Care said more than 200 patients a year were expected to benefit from the use of the new equipment.

Consultant Urologist Baher Hussein said the machine was "working like a dream".

Following the donation, the team was "proud to be in the same league as the most advanced urology centres" in the UK, he added.