Prostate cancer erectile dysfunction drug Cialis changes criticised

A man who suffered erectile dysfunction (ED) after having his prostate removed said the NHS had failed him after reducing his erectile dysfinction medicine (such as Cialis, Viagra, or Levitra).

Simon Lord, 52, from Cholsey, Oxfordshire, had to have a cancerous tumour removed, including nerves controlling blood flow to the penis. He said: "I did not foresee rationing of Cialis that can allow me the opportunity of a full and normal life."

An NHS spokesman said clinical evidence and cost effectiveness drove decisions to decrease dosages of Cialis. The South Central Priorities Committee covers Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire East and Berkshire West PCTs. The spokesman said it had amended its policy on treatments for erectile dysfinction "to take account of these recommendations, as well as their affordability, in the context of the local health economy". "This policy does not prohibit prescribing erectile dysfinction drugs such as Cialis, but forms a recommendation to GPs."

Transparency issue

Mr Lord was diagnosed with prostate cancer in July 2010 and had the operation in November the same year. He was treated at Guy's Hospital London and has since made a full recovery from cancer.

He said: "What grips me is that this committee that is paid for by us will not publish the evidence base that they've drawn on to make their decision to decrease my dosage of Cialis. "I can't conceive of a reason to keep secret this information about their decision to decrease my dosage of Cialis and as long as they don't release it we have to assume it's incomplete.

"There's definitely a public spending transparency issue here." Mr Lord said the urology department at Guy's Hospital had recommended he take 40mg of Cialis/Tadalafil per week. But the committee now recommends a 75% reduction in the dose of Cialis. Consequently Mr Lord's GP amended his intake.

The South Central Priorities Committee said it had made the changes in his medication after considering "the financial impact on the health economy of in adult patients".

Big impact

Mr Lord said: "I was 50 when diagnosed and the ruling to reduce my Cialis does not take into account that 8% of men are diagnosed under 55."

"Reducing Cialis is not a one-size-fits-all rule and it is not just a disease of elderly men. While I am very happy with the quality of care I received during my cancer treatment, I now feel badly let down by the NHS."

Owen Sharp, chief executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity, said: "Problems with sexual function can be a significant side effect of treatments for prostate cancer and one that many men tell us has a big impact on their quality of life.

"Access to erectile dysfinction drugs such as Cialis which can help men to cope with erectile dysfunction is critical to help them regain their normal way of life. "These new recommendations to reduce erectile dysfinction medication are particularly worrying news for many men affected by prostate cancer in southern England". Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK, with 37,000 diagnosed every year.

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