As someone who has lived for more than 12 years with prostate cancer, I welcome the publicity generated by Messrs Robson and Kelly (pictured) in today's issue. Awareness of the disease must continue to be raised and men given choice in their treatment so long as it is likely to benefit the fight against this male cancer. Each of us goes to a consultant to get the best advice, and in most cases that is what we get.

The article makes it clear that the treatment is available in Scotland and consultants in the North of Scotland are aware of that. So, what's going on here?

I understand that brachytherapy is not suitable for all cases and am aware that the oncologists who deliver the service have to take account of an individual's dianostic tests to determine eligibility. Could it be that a different set of standards is being applied?

If Messrs Robson and Kelly would like to make a significant contribution to the improvement of prostate cancer services, could I suggest that they offer to help the Scottish Association of Prostate Cancer Support Group to help revitalise a dormant support group in Aberdeen and/or Inverness? It would be a start for them to visit our web site www.prostatescot.co.uk.

There is another new treatment, cryotherapy - a freezing technique with limited eligibility. Until very recently, it was only available in Guildford and Sunderland. I was sent to Guildford by my Scottish consultant. Strenuous efforts are being made to get a Scottish cryotherapy service to meet the needs of men in Scotland.
Iain Dickson, 8 Old Vinery, Kippen, Stirling.

Your article on brachytherapy for treatment of prostate cancer made clear that Profesor Langley's claim that this technique was not easily available in Scotland were exaggerated. More importantly, his claims about the safety of this procedure also appear exaggerated.

Professor Langley indicated that brachytherapy was much safer than the other two main options, namely surgical prostatectomy and external beam radiotherapy. Analyses of data from many hundreds of patients from the US, where brachytherapy has been available for about a decade, indicate that the incidence of side-effects from all three procedures is very similar. These adverse effects, consisting of erectile dysfunction, urinary and bowel incontinence, tend to appear immediately after surgery, but only after a delay of many months in the case of brachytherapy or irradiation.

Men diagnosed with early prostate cancer should not be rushed into therapy without a careful attempt to balance the risks involved.
Dr Willie Wilson, 57 Gallowhil Road, Lenzie.