NHS prostate cancer testing guidance is “outdated” and costs thousands of lives each year, experts say.
Studies show that new diagnostic methods have dramatically reduced the risk of harm from unnecessary biopsies and reduced deaths.
Charity Prostate Cancer UK says this should end the debate over expanding the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test that detects the disease.
He wants GPs to be able to proactively talk to men who are at higher risk of prostate cancer and offer them PSA testing.
Currently, many of the 52,000 annual cases are discovered after the cancer has spread, when treatment options are limited.
Studies show that new diagnostic methods have dramatically reduced the risk of harm from unnecessary biopsies and reduced deaths (file photo)
Charity Prostate Cancer UK says this should end debate over expanding the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test (file photo)
Two new techniques have been key to reducing damage: multiparametric MRI and transperineal guided biopsies (file photo)
Now, trials have found that PSA testing reduces the number of men who die from prostate cancer.
Two new techniques have been key to harm reduction: multiparametric MRI and transperineal guided biopsies.
The research compared patients who had elevated PSA levels who then had a pre-biopsy MRI, followed by a biopsy if the scan showed abnormalities, with the previous diagnostic route, which did not include the pre-biopsy MRI. to the biopsy.
Fewer men faced unnecessary biopsies and there was a 90 percent drop in those who developed sepsis after a biopsy.
MP Clive Efford, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer after a battle to get tested, said: “(This) makes it clear that this reluctance from my doctors was outdated.” The diagnosis of prostate cancer is now safer and more effective than ever.’
The Mail’s campaign to end unnecessary prostate deaths is raising awareness of the disease.
