Prostate Brachytherapy Centre
The Prostate Brachytherapy Centre is a world-renowned centre of excellence for prostate brachytherapy – a proven effective treatment for early localised prostate cancer.
Using innovative 4D brachytherapy it offers the same chance of a successful outcome as conventional treatments but with a lower rate of incontinence and impotence.
This website aims to provide you with information about prostate brachytherapy to help you find out if this treatment is right for you. It also tells you all about the Centre, the expertise offered by this team of top medical professionals and what will happen during your visits to the Centre.
Patient Outcomes
Men with prostate cancer treated by prostate brachytherapy can expect to live longer than matched men in England of the same age and affluence.3
15 years after treatment by brachytherapy 95% have not died from prostate cancer.4
Dr. Sophie Otter
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Dr. Sophie Otter
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Dr Sophie Otter is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Royal Surrey County Hospital, with outreach services at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals. She previously served as Chief of Service for Oncology. Her clinical focus includes the treatment of urological cancers—particularly prostate and bladder—as well as colorectal cancers. She is experienced in delivering advanced therapies such as prostate brachytherapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and systemic treatments including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy.
She graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2004 with distinctions in Medicine, Surgery, and Pathology. Her oncology training took place at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals and the Royal Marsden Hospital. She earned an MSc in Oncology with distinction in 2014 and completed an MD (Res) at the University of Surrey, focusing on image-guided radiotherapy for pelvic tumours.
Dr Otter’s research interests span image-guided radiotherapy, brachytherapy for pelvic malignancies, and the use of biomarkers and immunotherapy in cervical cancer. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to leading oncology textbooks. Her work has been recognised through multiple fellowships and travel grants, including awards from ESTRO and the Royal College of Radiologists.
She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists and a Member of both the Royal College of Physicians and ESTRO. Her commitment to clinical excellence and innovation in cancer care has made her a respected figure in the oncology community, particularly in advancing brachytherapy and precision radiotherapy techniques.
Professor Stephen Langley
Consultant Urological Surgeon
Professor Stephen Langley
Consultant Urological Surgeon
Professor Langley was appointed Consultant Urological Surgeon at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford in 1997 aged 32. He has developed an international reputation in prostate brachytherapy having successfully treated more than 6,000 patients. Collaborating with the University of Surrey he has built, and leads, an award-winning research team working in the field of prostate cancer. He has established a number of medical courses and has taught the technique of prostate brachytherapy to over 200 consultants across the World.
In 2004 he was appointed Visiting Professor of Urology at the University of Surrey. In the same year he was first to publish the transperineal prostate biopsy technique which has now become the gold standard for prostate biopsy. In 2012 he published the technique of 4D Brachytherapy based on his experience of over 1000 procedures. This one-stage real-time brachytherapy implant using both loose and stranded seeds optimizing the radiation dose to the prostate yet minimizes the side effects has been adopted by centres world-wide.
Professor Langley has published numerous clinical papers and presented the results of his research at many International Conferences. Due to his expertise he was invited to join the Department of Health’s Prostate Cancer Advisory Group. He is also Chairman of the Prostate Brachytherapy Advisory Group and Co-Chair of the Surrey & Sussex NHS Cancer Alliance in Urology.
Dr Sara Khaksar
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Dr Sara Khaksar
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Dr Sara Khaksar was appointed Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in 2006. In 2021, she transitioned to primarily private practice, while continuing to play a key role in the Prostate Brachytherapy team at The Royal Surrey.
She has established a specialist practice in prostate cancer and is experienced in all aspects of localised and advanced (metastatic) prostate cancer. Her expertise spans prostate brachytherapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), adaptive MR-guided stereotactic radiotherapy, salvage radiotherapy after prostatectomy and systemic therapies for metastatic prostate cancer, including hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and Radium 223 and Lutetium PSMA treatment.
Dr Khaksar studied medicine at the University of Wales, Cardiff. Her clinical oncology training took place in London at Charing Cross Hospital, The Hammersmith Hospital, Mount Vernon Hospital and The Royal Marsden Hospital. She gained advanced specialist training during a clinical fellowship at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. In 2004 she joined the brachytherapy team at the Royal Surrey as a Prostate Brachytherapy Fellow. Here she audited, presented and published the results of the centre. Her projects included developing the two-stage procedure into a one-stage real time implant which is now established practice.
During her tenure as a Consultant at the Royal Surrey, Dr Khaksar made contributions to research as the principal investigator for numerous clinical trials. She served as Prostate Brachytherapy Clinical Lead and Radiotherapy Development Lead for the Cancer Centre. Her interests also include medical education and she held the position of College Tutor for Clinical Oncology Trainees from 2018 to 2021.
Dr Carla Perna
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Dr Carla Perna
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Dr Carla Perna is a highly regarded consultant clinical oncologist based in London, Guildford, and Surrey who specialises in urological cancers, particularly prostate cancer and testicular cancer. With 15 years’experience, Dr Perna is highly proficient in various treatment modalities, including chemotherapy, MRIdian, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, 177 Lutetium PSMA therapy, and radiotherapy such as stereotactic radiotherapy and brachytherapy.
Dr Perna consults privately at Nuffield Health Guildford Hospital, GenesisCare Guildford, GenesisCare London Cromwell Hospital, and London Bridge Hospital. As well as this, she has also served as a specialist advisor for uro oncology and an MRI specialist for GenesisCare since 2019. Dr Perna provides 400 prostate brachytherapy treatments each year, utilising both the low-dose-rate and high-dose-rate techniques.
Dr Perna holds an MBBS from Università degli studi di Palermo. Following this, she completed higher specialist training in radiation oncology, before going on to accomplish a prestigious clinical fellowship at University College London Hospital, where she dedicated two years to formal research in pelvic radiotherapy. Additionally, Dr Perna holds the FRCS equivalent from the Royal College of Radiologists.
Beyond her practice, Dr Perna continues to make notable contributions to the field of clinical oncology. As a principal investigator, she has led several urological trials exploring radiotherapy techniques with hypo fractionation and SpaceOAR, as well as systemic treatments including Theranostic applications such as Lutetium PSMA for metastatic prostate cancer.
https://www.topdoctors.co.uk/doctor/carla-perna
https://carlaperna.co.uk/
https://www.doctify.com/uk/specialist/dr-carla-perna
https://www.genesiscare.com/uk/our-doctors/dr-carla-perna
Dr Christos Mikropoulos
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Dr Christos Mikropoulos
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Professional qualifications
MBBS- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Medical School (1992-1998)
MRCP -Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, November 2007
FRCR-Royal College of Radiologists, March 2013
Post-graduate degrees
MSc in Oncology, University of Newcastle Medical School, July 2008
MD (Res) student-ICR-University of London-2016
Mr Mikropoulos is a Clinical Oncologist with significant experience in treating a range of solid tumours. He is actively involved in cancer research and aim to lead innovative projects that will have a significant impact on patient care. His research interests are mainly focused on Genomics, Precision Medicine, Prostate Brachytherapy and Stereotactic Radiotherapy
Current appointment June 2019 to now:
Mr Mikropoulos is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at St Luke’s Cancer Centre where he care for patients with prostate, bladder, testicular cancer, penile cancer and Colorectal cancer, he also provides Lymphoma Radiotherapy and SABR for oligometastatic cancers and prostate brachytherapy.
Research Experience
PI for SABRE prostate SABR RT trial; ARASTEP; WAYFIND-R
Discover the inspiring journeys of our patients from diagnosis to treatment and recovery.
Watch this video to gain a comprehensive understanding of each step along the way.
Survival Rates compared to other treatments - 20 years of data
Greater Quality of Life compared to other treatments - 20 years of data
What is 4D Prostate Brachytherapy?
What are the side effects?
How successful is Prostate Brachytherapy?
Is Prostate Brachytherapy right for you?
Dear Professor Langley,
I just wanted to ‘drop you a line’ to express my thanks and gratitude for you carrying out my brachytherapy implants on Thursday last.
I would also like to express my thanks to your whole team. From start to finish I felt in the hands of a really professional team, who ‘smile’ a lot which is a real ‘boon’ to the layman.
Patient
Dear Professor Langley,
I am writing today to thank you and your team.
Before I came to see you I was very anxious about my future. From our first meeting I felt so much better. The subsequent scans and biopsy were all carried out in an efficient and professional manner. You and your team have treated me with genuine kindness and made a huge difference to my life.
Thank you.
Patient
Dear Stephen
I want to thank you and your team for the Brachy Therapy treatment performed on me some 5 years ago. It has been very successful as you know, and I have now been clear of any issues and certified cured. The whole experience and treatment from your team and Nuffield Hospital has been brilliant and I am very grateful.
Thanks again, and I wish you good fortune for the future.
Best wishes
Patient
Dear Professor Langley
Thank you for the great care that you provide to Bupa patients, we really appreciate it and so do they. In fact 4 of them got in touch to let us know. I’m writing to share with you the feedback that we have received from your Bupa patients about the care you provided them. I’m sure you’ll be pleased to learn that the majority rated your care as “good” or “excellent”. We understand how important feedback is for your professional development, and how sometimes it’s difficult to access. So we hope that you find the comments we’ve included from your Bupa patients useful. We’ve also included some constructive feedback too, which we hope you’ll find helpful.
Comments
He was exceptionally competent and forthright. This instilled me with confidence in him and his team. He is also a very nice man. My consultant was courteous, with a good bedside manner, extremely, professional and highly competent. Considerate manner, clear explanations. Professor Langley gave an outstanding service including after care.
Received from BUPA
Professor Langley and his team were so professional and everything was explained to my husband which put him at ease straight away. We would certainly not hesitate to come to this hospital again and would also recommend this to our friends and relatives. So many people are quick to complain but I doubt many people take the time to praise and congratulate.
Patient
Dear Professor Langley,
Valerie and I would like to sincerely thank you for the superb care I have received from you and your staff this year. Your positive attitude to my condition has been a great help which, in turn, has given me the confidence to deal with my diagnosis.
Patient
Dear Prof Langley & Team,
I would just like to express my sincere thanks to you and your team for all the support during the past five months. My diagnosis of Prostate Cancer in October was a great shock to me and the start of an extraordinary journey. The care and professionalism I have been shown has been of great comfort to my wife Pat and myself.
Patient
This letter is long overdue – now that we have come to the end of our routine meetings – to thank you for the great success of Brachytherapy. Five years ago the prospect of facing prostate cancer was rather daunting, but from the beginning you inspired great confidence and your patience and kindness over the years with all queries was very much appreciated.
Patient
Thanks again for sorting the prostate out so expertly and for all the after care. For what its worth, I’ve met quite a few doctors in the last six months and although I have no complaints, none of them have had the same ‘people person’ skills that you have, I always felt relaxed and confident of a positive outcome.
Patient
As a patient, we ensure your welfare is a priority and with a team of 10 healthcare professionals we are able to operate efficiently and dutifully with care to ensure your day is not disrupted.
- Langley SEM, Soares R, Uribe J, Uribe-Lewis S, Money-Kyrle J, Perna C, Khaksar S, Laing R, Long-term oncological outcomes and toxicity in 597 men aged ≤60 years at time of low-dose-rate brachytherapy for localised prostate cancer. BJU Int. 2018 Jan;121(1):38-45.
- Nobes J, Khaksar S, Hawkins M, Cunningham M, Langley SEM, Laing RW. Novel prostate brachytherapy technique: improved dosimetric and clinical outcome. Radiother Oncol 2008 Jul:88(1): 121-6.
- Uribe-Lewis S, Uribe J, Deering C, Langley S, Higgins D, Whiting D, Metawe M, Khaksar S, Mehta S, Mikropoulos C, Sophie Otter, Perna C, Langley SEM. Net survival of men with localized prostate cancer after LDR brachytherapy. Brachytherapy 2024 23(3): 239-333
- Uribe-Lewis S, Uribe J, Bourke V, Deering C, Higgins D, Mehta S, Mikropoulos C, Sophie Otter, Perna C, Khaksar S, Laing R, Langley SEM. Long-term survival after low-dose-rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer: the Royal Surrey experience. BJU Int 2022 129 (6): 723-73
Every year we follow up
Our clinic will support your welfare through the first year, and follow up through subsequent years after. As a research centre, we capture your treatment and healing progress to ensure that our treatment remains consistent and to measure as a base-line with other treatments available.