Prostate cancer breakthrough hailed

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LONDON: A breakthrough in testing for prostate cancer was today welcomed by a South Tyneside man who beat the disease.

British scientists have developed the first reliable test for whether men run a high risk of getting prostate cancer.

The breakthrough raises the prospect of millions being screened for the disease, in the same way that women are for breast cancer.

The £5.50 test has so far proven to be twice as precise as the current method – a prostate-specific antigen test (PSA) – and focuses on urine rather than blood.

Tony Purvis, of South Shields, was diagnosed in early 2002, but has been cancer-free since September of that year.

The 72-year-old, who works part-time as a material handling consultant, said: "The PSA is the first test the doctor tells you to have. The PSA levels can be raised because you have an infection, so you can get false readings, but it's still the first test before other procedures.

"The urine test has been a possibility for some time and it will be a few years before it's proven. A mass trial is needed. It would be very welcome if it works.

"I like the idea, but I would still urge people at the moment to go for the PSA. You don't go straight from PSA to biopsy."

Scientists from the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute and the Institute of Cancer Research used the results of genetic studies to link low levels of the microseminoprotein-beta protein with signs of the disease.

Mr Purvis, who still has a six-monthly PSA test, added: "I'm giving the urine test a very positive welcome, but don't ignore the PSA.

"Don't wait for the new test. The pain of the needle is far less than the pain of death. Get it checked!"