New Test Boosts Early Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Prospects
Prostate cancer is one of the most prominent gender-specific cancers, but, in common with other forms of cancer, early diagnosis can make a major difference to the prognosis for patients.
Not only does it make the chances of survival greater, especially because early intervention can stop secondary cancer arising, but it also means the course of treatment is likely to be shorter and less gruelling than with a later diagnosis.
Prostate cancer can come in different categories, such as localised, locally advanced, metastatic castration-sensitive, recurrent and castration-resistant. However, what these categories have in common is that radiotherapy can be used to treat each of them, whereas other treatments may be used for some categories and not others.
Our radiotherapy centre can treat each of these, enabling you to get the right kind of medical care in each situation.
New Test May Improve Prostate Cancer Detection
A major concern in the medical profession has been the general reluctance of men to seek medical attention and help when they perceive they may have a health problem, ignoring symptoms that may be used to make an early diagnosis.
However, a new development in prostate cancer diagnostics may go some way to resolving this issue for this particular disease.
A new test, developed in the UK, is a simple saliva-based method of detecting signs of prostate cancer. Rather than men having to visit a doctor and get a blood test – something trypanophobic patients will be reluctant to do – the test can be completed at home. The user just has to spit in a tube and post it off to a laboratory to be tested.
Making a test that patients are more willing to use and can access without a visit to clinical premises can have the benefit of increasing the number of men taking it.
However, even this may be less advantageous than the finding of one study that the spit test is more effective than a blood test in detecting more aggressive cancers while at the same time recording fewer false positives.
Further studies are required to ensure it is effective across different racial groups, which is important because prostate cancer rates are highest among black men and higher among South Asian men than white Europeans. This makes it particularly important that the test works effectively among ethnic groups at higher risk.
European Variations In Outcomes
Nonetheless, if it is successful, it will be likely that this test is used across Europe and beyond, helping improve diagnosis and patient outcomes, with lower mortality as a result.
Here in Austria, the population is mostly white, but while the ethnic composition may differ in some other countries across Europe, this alone does not account for the wide diversity of outcomes for prostate cancer patients.
A Europe-wide study covering the period from 1980 to 2017 across 26 European countries, of which 19 were (or are) in the EU, highlighted some notable disparities, especially in detection rates.
While most countries saw a clear increase in the numbers detected over the period, others saw a rise and then a decrease (France and Italy) or fluctuations between rising and falling rates, Austria being an instance of the latter trend.
However, these variations may have a high correlation with detection rates, with the number of men getting tested varying, along with public health promotion of testing. Only one country, Lithuania, has had a national screening programme.
Survival rates varied, with trends being broadly flat, although some worsened over time. However, overall, the situation did improve, demonstrating the effectiveness of improved diagnosis and treatment, including radiotherapy. Austria is one country with a significantly improved survival rate.
Other comparative data includes EU statistics from 2022 indicating a wide disparity of outcomes, with a mortality rate of 38.6 per 100,000 overall across the EU, varying widely between 80.4 in Estonia and 25.7 in Italy.
Latvia had the second highest mortality rate at 76.1, which may indicate a particular problem in the Baltic region and justify the decision to institute a national screening programme in Lithuania.
Our Focus On Individual Patients
Comparative data across different countries can be informative about national trends, but for individuals who have had a prostate cancer diagnosis and are seeking private treatment for it, their situation is the most important area of consideration.
Not only does this mean that the diagnosis may uncover a different severity or type of prostate cancer or detect it at a different stage of development, but, as with any cancer patient, factors such as age, overall health and genetics can play a role in determining the best course of treatment.
Therefore, while early detection remains a crucial factor in improving the prospects for patients, no two patients are the same. That is why our radiotherapy oncologists will work with you in creating the best treatment plan for you.
