Painless prostate cancer test claims 90% accuracy

In 2008, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended that doctors stop routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer due to its high rate of false positives.

But while the recommendation was meant to save men the stress, pain and potential long-term effects of an unnecessary biopsy, like urinary incontinence, the fallout has been a rise in metastatic prostate cancer.

Unfortunately, it’s left men with few other options for early detection prostate screening.

Now though, thanks to the development of a novel test, researchers say they can detect prostate cancer with 90 percent accuracy — before any symptoms appear…

Advanced technology shines the light on prostate cancer

The research, performed at Aston University in Birmingham (UK), analyzed over 100 blood film samples taken from healthy men, men with prostate cancer and some men with a more aggressive form of the disease.

Specifically, they looked at crystal-like structures in these dried blood smears using a light-based technique known as new polarization-based image reconstruction.

This allowed them to zero in on how proteins in the blood actually changed shape three-dimensionally during the early stages of the cancer.

They were able to also conduct a detailed layer-by-layer analysis of the samples, which they say is crucial for identifying significant differences between healthy and cancerous samples.

In fact, according to the scientists, the technique showed a 90 percent accuracy rate for both early diagnosis and classification of cancer — which is far higher than existing screening methods.

Even better, because the only thing required for cancer screening is a blood sample, the technique is less traumatic and practically risk-free for patients — and takes just 15 minutes.

“Prostate cancer accounts for nearly 10 percent of cancer deaths in men and is one of the leading causes of death in older men,” said study author Professor Igor Meglinski. “However, the life expectancy of 90 percent of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer at stage 1 or 2 is 15 years or more”

“By enabling earlier and more accurate detection, our blood test has the potential to significantly improve outcomes and survival rates for many patients.”

Know your prostate cancer risks

The researchers believe this new test has the potential to revolutionize cancer diagnoses and early detection and monitoring as well.

That’s great news, but since the test is still in its early stages, it may be a while before your doctor can offer it.

For now, men will have to rely on traditional screening methods. Of course, the best first step is to lower your prostate cancer risk in the first place…

Ways to do this include:

• Maintaining a healthy weight to avoid the dangerous link between obesity and prostate cancer.
• Lowering the amount of three dietary molecules linked to aggressive prostate cancer.
• Following a prostate cancer-prevention diet.
• Exercising, which acts like a roadblock to prostate cancer progression.
• Keep up healthy levels of vitamin D. Low levels have been linked to prostate cancer.

Supplements may also help…

Previous research found three compounds — ursolic acid, curcumin and resveratrol — reduced the size and weight of prostate tumors in mice.

When ursolic acid was combined with curcumin or resveratrol, it blocked prostate cancer cells from consuming glutamine, a nutrient they need to grow, effectively starving them.

Sources:

Aston University researcher uses light to develop quicker, cheaper and less painful technique to detect prostate cancer — EurekAlert!

Breakthrough new cancer test could make prostate exams a thing of the past — MSN

5 Years After Routine PSA Testing Stopped Being Recommended — American Cancer Society

The cancer-fighting triple-threat for your prostate — Easy Health Options

The secret ingredients for prostate cancer prevention — Easy Health Options