A CANCER patient is hoping his cancer has been controlled after being selected to take part in a medical trial.

Grandad-of-seven, Paul Taylor, is now a picture of health, despite only having the experimental, high-intensity, focused ultrasound treatment four weeks ago.

Paul, 57, from Colchester, was diagnosed with prostate cancer a year ago.

He said: “When you are first told you have got cancer it is frightening.”

Paul had no symptoms and it was only detected after he asked his doctor to be checked.

After his diagnosis, he researched treatment.

He learned he would have had the prostate removed, or radiation treatment, which both had complicated side effects.

He said: “I had read about high intensity focused ultrasound. I checked it out on the internet and it seemed it was being carried out quite often abroad and the results are amazing.

“Results were showing the success rate of killing the cancer was about 95 per cent, so it was the best option.”

Paul heard about trials at University College Hospital, in London, and his urologist at Colchester referred him.

He was accepted as one of only 41 people to take part in the trial in November.

A series of tests followed and Paul underwent treatment on March 20.

It lasted just 90 minutes and required a day’s stay at the hospital.

The treatment, under general anaesthetic, uses ultrasound technology to pinpoint exactly where the cancer is and can burn it away without harming the other part of the prostate.

Mr Taylor needed a catheter for a week but said the side-effects since the treatment had been non-existent. He had to take antibacterial` tablets for the first seven days and will continue to be monitored for the next three years.

He said: “For four weeks now I have had no pains and although I haven’t had the results back yet, I feel very confident.”

His results from the trial are due next month.