‘New test needed’ for prostate cancer

Doctors need a new test for prostate cancer so that patients can avoid unnecessary treatment, a leading charity has said.

The Prostate Cancer Charity has warned that without an effective means of differentiating between aggressive and non-aggressive form of the disease, men often endure invasive procedures when their condition could simply be monitored.

Treatment for prostate cancer has significant side effects and can leave patients with long-term ailments such as incontinence.

“The main issue we must resolve in order to save lives and prevent men from going through unnecessary treatment for the forms of prostate cancer which are not life threatening is to find a test that will diagnose the nasty forms of prostate cancer earlier,” said Chris Hiley, head of policy and research at the Prostate Cancer Charity.

“Until we have that test, we would encourage men over the age of 50 to be aware of the disease and find out more about it if they have concerns.”

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the UK.

Research out this week suggested that the number of cases across Europe increased last year to 3.2 million, up from 2.9 million in 2004.

One in three Britons will get some form of cancer during their lives and the disease is responsible for 25 per cent of deaths.

The Prostate Cancer Charity has organised an awareness week next month to encourage all men, especially those over the age 50, to learn more about the disease and visit their GP if they display any of the symptoms.