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Men who are at an elevated risk for prostate cancer should be provided with a test by general practitioners, even in the absence of any disease symptoms, according to a charitable organization.
This recommendation stems from two studies conducted by Prostate Cancer UK, which demonstrated that tests assessing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels “decrease the number of men succumbing” to the illness, even though they were previously considered unreliable.
At present, physicians provide PSA tests only to men exhibiting symptoms of prostate cancer; they cannot proactively offer tests to high-risk men lacking symptoms, such as those over 50, black men, and individuals with a familial history of the illness.
This restriction helps to prevent non-cancer patients from undergoing unnecessary additional tests and therapies, such as invasive biopsies.
The NHS notes that PSA levels may be elevated due to various benign conditions, yet doctors cannot determine through the test if cancer is the underlying cause.
However, Dr. Matthew Hobbs, research director at Prostate Cancer UK, indicated that current guidelines are “clearly leading to late diagnoses” and generating “significant inequality throughout the UK”.
“In the past, the evidence supporting PSA testing as a life-saving measure was weak, and there was substantial evidence indicating testing could cause harm,” Dr. Hobbs stated.
“Presently, the landscape has evolved; we possess robust evidence from two independent trials affirming that PSA testing does indeed lower the mortality rate from prostate cancer.”
The trials conducted by the charity revealed that the potential harm resulting from the disease was diminished by 79% when men underwent a PSA test followed by a pre-biopsy MRI scan, in comparison to those who did not receive an MRI.
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Prostate Cancer UK is now urging the NHS guidelines to “align with contemporary evidence”.
Each year, over 52,000 individuals receive a prostate cancer diagnosis, rendering it the most prevalent cancer among men.
Sir Rod Stewart urged men to undergo checks following his fight with prostate cancer. Pic: AP
Symptoms may include difficulties in urination or an increased urge to urinate, along with the presence of blood in the urine or semen.
Clive Efford, Labour MP representing Eltham and Chislehurst, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November 2023 and stated that his physicians were “dismissive” when he requested a test, even though the illness is present in his family history.
He mentioned that the recent report “clearly indicates that this hesitance from my doctors was unfounded and outdated” and that “there is no justification for guidelines to remain unchanged”.
Numerous renowned celebrities have previously voiced the importance of regular examinations.
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Sir Rod Stewart disclosed in 2019 that he had been receiving treatment for prostate cancer for three years, crediting the early detection of the disease to his commitment to regular check-ups.
Prostate cancer referrals also surged following the passing of BBC presenter Bill Turnbull in 2022, and after comedian and former QI host Stephen Fry disclosed his prostate cancer diagnosis in 2018.
A representative from the NHS stated that it is dedicated to utilizing proven and effective cancer screening methodologies that can benefit patients and will collaborate with the government to implement updates to UK screening protocols.
A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care mentioned that it is allocating £16 million to explore “new strategies to detect prostate cancer in men at the earliest opportunity, providing them with the best chance for survival”.
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