Excitement over new test for prostate cancer

There has been much excitement in the media over the last few days about a new test for prostate cancer which involves a simple urine sample. Prostate cancer effects on average 35,000 men each year but it can be difficult to diagnosis at a very early stage and prostate screening is unreliable and not widely adopted – although we do offer screening at The Princess Grace Hospital. I asked one of our senior Urologists Professor Mark Emberton MD FRCS (Urol) for his view of the new urine screen.

Mark Emberton said, “Urine and breath tests are showing some promise in assisting in prostate cancer detection. The most commonly used urine test has not been approved for use in the NHS, though is available through private providers.”

“The real question relates to whether or not these tests will be able to discriminate clinically important prostate cancer from the small insignificant cancers that probably do not matter. This will be the subject of further studies.”

Please follow this link to an article featuring the development of the new urine test.

http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-specialisms/cancer/prostate-cancer-urine-test-breakthrough/5020495.article