Brian Barrass was first to undergo cryosurgery at Sunderland Royal Hospital – the first NHS unit in the country to offer the treatment, which freezes and destroys the cancer cells.

The 67-year-old, from Tunstall, recovered, but was wracked with worry after advisory group Nice (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) issued new guidelines about prostate cancer services.

As revealed in the Echo, the organisation recommended cryosurgery should no longer be offered by the NHS, except in medical trials, saying there isn't enough evidence to show clearly that it is effective.

Mr Barrass, who runs a polythene and rubber products business, was so worried he sought assurance from consultant surgical urologist Professor Damian Greene, who pioneered cryotherapy at Sunderland with the help of doctors from Germany.

Although now happy his treatment was safe, Mr Barrass was surprised at Nice's new guidelines, which could save £2.8million a year but also cut potentially life-saving cryosurgery from the 20 UK centres which have followed Sunderland's lead.

"For me personally it was effective," said the dad-of-three, who lives with his wife, Laura.

"And it was a good operation to have because it's localised and you don't end up with cuts or many side-effects."

Mr Barrass said: "When you get diagnosed it's like a brick hitting you. You think it's the end of your world.

"But when Professor Greene told me about this treatment I jumped at the idea."

He added: "Professor Greene was very excited about the treatment and wanted to extend it across the country. He must be very disappointed it has not been recommended."

Nice denied it had done a U-turn on previous rules and said its new guidelines would inform NHS trusts of best practice for treating prostate cancer, and reduce anxiety for the 35,000 men a year diagnosed with the disease.