A new blood can spot ‘hidden’ aggressive prostate cancer tumours by analysing proteins and genes, new research has found. The STHLM3 test was trialled in a large group of 58,818 men to see what difference it made to diagnosing dangerous cancers earlier. Not only was it far more reliable than the standard PSA blood test, but it also revealed the presence of potentially lethal cancers that could easily be missed. Read more
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Prostate cancer treatment inconsistencies found in Canada
Some men with low-risk prostate cancer in Canada may be opting for surgery with life-changing side-effects without fully understanding their options, says a new report. When prostate cancer is diagnosed while it is confined to the prostate, it is often treatable, but it can be aggressive in a subset of men, urologists say. Read more
‘Milestone’ prostate cancer drug
The first drug that targets precise genetic mutations in prostate cancer has been shown to be effective in a “milestone” trial by UK scientists. The study, at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, took place on 49 men with untreatable cancer. The drug, olaparib, had low overall success, but slowed tumour growth in 88% of patients with specific DNA mutations. Read more
Left in peril, the men told: You’re too young for a prostate test
Steve Kirkby knew all about the strong history of prostate cancer in his family. It had killed his 74-year-old paternal grandfather, and Steve’s father had been diagnosed with it at the age of 68. His father’s oncologist had said that Steve would need to be checked for the disease when he reached 40. ‘With my family history, I’d known for a long time that it was something I might have to face one day,’ says 44-year-old Steve, a married father of two from Ascot in Berkshire, who works in pharmaceutical healthcare sales. So in March 2011, soon after turning 40, he saw his GP to ask for a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. Read more
Trained dogs can sniff out prostate cancer
With their ability to smell tiny amounts of chemicals, trained dogs can easily find explosives or illegal drugs hidden in a suitcase. But mounting evidence points to another helpful job for man’s best friend: finding cancers before they cause any symptoms. A study presented at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association in Orlando showed that dogs can almost unerringly detect prostate cancer in urine samples. Read more