Prostate cancer screening in pipeline for all middle-aged men

Screening could soon become available to all middle-aged men after trials showed new techniques slashed the chances of overdiagnosis.

Experts have long argued that only a national screening programme would significantly reduce deaths from the leading cancer in men.  Tests have until now been too unreliable to pass the threshold, with the potential for unnecessary harm deemed to outweigh the benefits.

However, new analysis of advances in screening and biopsy techniques in trials involving more than 600,000 men has been shown to cut potential harm by 67 per cent.

It comes as the UK’s National Screening Committee announced it would review all evidence for prostate screening, with a decision expected by the end of the year.

Charities have welcomed the review, with estimates that an NHS programme, similar to the breast screening offered to women, could save thousands of lives every year.

Dr Matthew Hobbs, director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, said “We’ve known for some time now that testing more than reduces prostate cancer deaths.

“But there have always been concerns about how many men would be harmed to achieve this.  That’s why we are so pleased that the committee is going to review the evidence once more.”

The current PSA blood test offered to men is known to be inaccurate and has never been deemed enough for a screening programme.

However, trials have since found that MRI scans can effectively pick up tumours while a new biopsy technique, known as transperineal guided biopsies, slashes the risk of infection.

Ros Eeles, Professor of Oncogenetics at The Institute of Cancer Research, said the data “supports the shift towards the investigation of how to implement prostate screening.”

She added “It shows us a rationale for the way forward to implementing a prostate screening programme in the UK.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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