MRI scan could screen men for prostate cancer

A 10-minute MRI scan could be used to screen men for prostate cancer, according to a new study.

The scan proved far more accurate in diagnosing cancer than a blood test that looks for high levels of a protein called PSA.

MRI detected several serious cancers that would have been missed with PSA alone.

Currently, PSA is considered so unreliable that there is no national testing program, but men over the age of 50 can request a PSA test.

In the Rethink study, Published in BMJ Oncology. Men aged 50 to 75 years from London were invited for a screening MRI and PSA examination, which was performed at University College Hospital.

Of the 303 people who underwent both tests, 48 ​​had positive MRIs indicative of cancer, and 25 of them were diagnosed with significant cancer after further tests such as biopsies.

More than half of men whose cancer was detected by MRI had a low PSA test score of less than 3 ng/ml, which is considered normal, so they may have been mistakenly convinced that they did not have the disease. .

Professor Caroline Moore, a UCLH consultant urologist and principal investigator at University College London, said: “Our results show that MRI is a more reliable way to detect potentially serious cancers early. “This is an early indication that it could potentially provide . % of participants were “overdiagnosed” with low-risk disease. ”

Paul Rothwell, 62, was diagnosed with prostate cancer as a result of a clinical trial. He was found early and successfully treated. He feels lucky because the PSA test was negative, and without the MRI it would have given him a false sense of security.

Paul, from Hertfordshire, told the BBC: “If I had had a blood test, I would have gone on with my life without realizing that I had a slow-growing time bomb of cancer in me. I would have sent him off and walked around,” he said. By the time I actually found out, it would probably have been more difficult to treat, and even more dangerous to me. ”

Although the PSA test is considered a useful indicator of prostate cancer, it is not very reliable. High levels, which may indicate cancer, can also be caused by recent infections, strenuous exercise or sex. This can lead to overdiagnosis of cancer and, as studies have shown, a low PSA score can cause cancer to be missed.

The authors of this study suggest that prostate MRI may be used for screening, but say large studies will be needed to evaluate this.

In this trial, black men were five times less likely to be screened than white men, despite their increased risk of prostate cancer.

Another study author at King’s College London, Saran Green, said: “One in four black men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. This is the same for men of other ethnicities. “Given this increased risk, it will be extremely important for every citizen to get prostate cancer.” The testing program includes strategies to reach out to black men and encourage more black men to get tested. ”

Errol McKellar, 66, from Essex was diagnosed with prostate cancer 13 years ago. After his treatment was successful, he returned to his job as an auto mechanic and began offering his customers discounts if they had their own or their partner’s prostate exams.

He now runs the Errol McKellar Foundation, a charity aimed at raising awareness of prostate cancer and making prostate cancer screening available to more men.

He told the BBC: “When they brought the car in, I asked the men, ‘When was the last time it was serviced and inspected?'”

“There is a great deal of mistrust in health care systems among African and Caribbean communities that needs to be addressed. Ignorant.

“When prostate cancer shows up on your doorstep, it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white. If you ignore it, it will cost you your life. Ultimately, this is every man’s problem and leaves no one behind.” There is one person behind me. ”

The study’s lead author, Professor Mark Emberton, said a screening program could be set up and implemented within the next decade, adding: “Britain’s prostate cancer mortality rate is higher than that of countries such as the United States and Spain. “It’s twice as high as the rest of the country because the level of testing in the UK is so high.” Given that prostate cancer is treatable if detected early, I am confident that a national screening program will significantly reduce prostate cancer mortality in the UK. ”

Simon Greaveson, Assistant Director of Prostate Cancer Research UK, said: “Prostate cancer in men is highly treatable if detected early. Sadly, more than 10,000 men are diagnosed with cancer each year. It has already metastasized and it has been diagnosed too late.”

“MRI scans have revolutionized the way prostate cancer is diagnosed. It’s great to see research on how these scans can be used more effectively. These results are very interesting. , we now want to see and understand a larger UK-wide study.” If MRI can be used as the first step in getting tested, it could form the basis of a national testing programme. There is a nature. ”

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