Breakthrough: New 15-Minutes Prostate Cancer Test Diagnosis Cases That PSA Test Misses

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide and about 1 in every 41 men lose their lives to the condition. A new test that can detect prostate cancer appears to be a real game-changer.

Scientists have developed a new 15-minute scan which avoids the need to undergo rectal examinations. The experts at Imperial College London use MRI, similar to what is used to screen breast cancer in women.

This development has been hailed as a "game-changer" by health experts.

“It is a non-invasive, safe, and more acceptable way to test men for prostate cancer. Unfortunately, men can often be put off from seeking medical advice for prostate issues because they are worried about the need for a rectal examination. This breakthrough may encourage more men to have a prostate health check,” Science Focus quoted Imperial College research fellow Dr. David Eldred-Evans.

The Prostogram

The research team tested four hundred volunteers in the age group 50-69 using the new scanning method alongside the standard prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. The findings of the study revealed that the program was better at detecting aggressive cancers more effectively than the PSA test.

“The number of aggressive prostate cancers missed by PSA highlights the importance of ramping up our research efforts into alternative ways to screen for prostate cancer,” senior author, Professor Hashim Ahmed, told Science Focus.

One of the volunteers who took part in the study is now successfully been treated for prostate cancer that was detected in the scan despite it being missed by the PSA blood test.

“Being diagnosed with prostate cancer picked up by the MRI was a bit of a shock. I had some prostate issues around seven years ago and had a PSA test and everything was fine,” Mark, 61 told Science Focus.

“If I hadn’t taken part in the trial and just gone to my doctor, I would have accepted that my PSA was still completely normal. Now if someone asked me, I’d say to request an MRI scan because the PSA is useful but it does have weaknesses,” Mark added.

Around 60% of prostate cancer cases are diagnosed in men over 65 and it is estimated that about 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.