Scientists have created a urine test to diagnose prostate cancer – sparing men from the invasive investigations they must currently undergo. The discovery, which was published on Thursday, in the Journal of Breath Research, raises hope of tests that deliver an accurate diagnosis from the outset.
The researchers hailed their work as an important milestone in fighting the disease and said it should save many lives. Prostate cancer, also known as carcinoma of the prostate, is the development of cancer in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. More than 1.1 million cases of prostate cancer were recorded globally in 2012, according to the World Cancer Research Fund.
These accounted for eight per cent of all new cancer cases and 15 per cent of those affecting men. Essentially, the test uses a special tool to ‘smell’ the cancer in a man’s urine. A Consultant Urologist at Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, Mr. Raj Prasad said: ‘If this test succeeds, a full medical trial it will revolutionise diagnostics.
“Even with detailed biopsies, there is a risk we may fail to detect prostate cancer in some cases. “Currently, indicators such as an enlarged prostate and unusually high Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) levels can lead to recommendations for biopsy if there is a concern cancer may be prevalent.
PSA is a protein produced exclusively by prostate cells. There is a simple blood test to measure PSA level and this may help to detect early prostate can
