Healthy living
Body matters
New test to pinpoint prostate cancer 'tigers'
A new screening test for an aggressive type of prostate cancer could identify those men who do need treatment and those who don’t
Scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research and the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine have identified a unique genetic marker, which only shows up when prostate cancer is dangerous. Most cases of prostate cancer, which affects around 32,000 men in the UK every year, pose little threat to health, as the cancer is slow-growing.
However, because is it currently very difficult to tell the difference, many men opt to have drastic surgery and drug treatment anyway, even though they probably don't need it. Side effects can include impotence and incontinence.
This latest research, published in Oncogene, reveals that patients who have a particular genetic change, called 2 Edel, have a 25 percent chance of survival compared with 90 percent for those without the gene variation.
'This is exciting news for men with prostate cancer, many of whom are faced with the difficult decision of whether to undergo treatment or not,' said Professor Colin Cooper from The Institute of Cancer Research. 'We hope that in the next few years screening for 2 Edel will be incorporated into clinical practice.'
However Josephine Querido, senior science information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: 'These results are encouraging, but further studies are needed to confirm whether this marker really could be used help to doctors tailor treatment to individual patients in the future.'
At present a system called the Gleason score is used to determine whether a cancer requires treatment or not. A sample of the cancer tissue (biopsy) is taken and the cells are examined under the microscope for signs of abnormality. Although considered an extremely useful tool, the Gleason score is subject to interpretation and variation.
There are a number of health problems that may result in the prostate gland becoming enlarged or inflamed. Prostate cancer is the most serious but all of these conditions may have similar symptoms. If you are concerned you should make an appointment to see your GP.
Symptoms include
- A frequent need to urinate
- Difficulty starting to urinate
- Straining or taking a long time to finish
- A weak flow
- A feeling that your bladder has not emptied properly
- Pain while urinating
- Lower back pain
- Pain in the hips or pelvis
- Blood in the urine
- Difficulty in getting or keeping an erection
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Reader comments
Many of the symptoms you list can also be as a result of enlargement of the gland. Rather than consider surgery as the only option there are some exccellent herbal remedies ( Saw Palmento etc) which cna greatly help with the problem. Seems to me that many middel aged men are put off discussing with thier GP because they think surgery is the only option. If they were aware that as in Germany there is an alternative maybe many more would be happy to discuss.
Posted by: norman e. owen | 13/03/2008 16:24:33
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
