Prostate cancer cases are projected to double by 2040, according to the chief executive of ICR, Professor Kristian Helin.
Professor Helin disclosed this on Saturday while responding to a recent study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting introduced a promising new approach to prostate cancer detection.
He emphasised the importance of early diagnosis, stating, “Cancers that are picked up early are much more likely to be curable.”
“We know that the current PSA test can cause men to go through unnecessary treatments and, more worryingly, it’s missing men who do have cancer. We urgently need an improved test to screen for the disease,” Professor Helin highlighted the limitations of the current PSA test.
Researchers from the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust proposed a simple at-home saliva test as a potential game-changer in the fight against prostate cancer.
The study, involving over 6,000 men aged 55-69, focused on a polygenic risk score to identify individuals at the highest risk for further screening. This innovative approach aims to provide earlier detection for high-risk cases while reducing anxiety and unnecessary biopsies for low-risk individuals.
The new saliva test offers a cost-effective and user-friendly alternative for early detection, potentially revolutionizing prostate cancer screening.
