Men are being urged to understand their risk of prostate cancer in Movember as a Northwood cancer imaging expert warns current testing methods can miss cases.
Professor Anwar Padhani, from the Paul Strickland Scanner Centre in Northwood, said research suggests scanning men before a PSA blood test could detect more cancers, although the approach has limitations.
He claimed studies involving a few thousand people found around half of the cancers detected through an imaging-first approach had not produced an abnormal PSA result that would have triggered an MRI.
Speaking exclusively to Northwood&RuislipNews, Padhani said: “The biggest issue is that half the cancers there will not be found.”
However, he acknowledged scanning everyone would have drawbacks, with around 96% of people undergoing imaging not having cancer, making it a challenge for health services to fund.
The centre currently offers prostate cancer screening privately, but Padhani warned this could leave out those who stand to benefit most, including Black men and people from working-class backgrounds, who are more likely to develop advanced disease.
He said: “You have to get yourself checked or at least know what your PSA level is. If you’re aged 60 or above and have a PSA level of 1 or under, your chance of dying from prostate cancer in 25 years is just 1%.
“The awareness has always been there, but it’s not been talked about. Now people are talking about it.”
Paul Strickland Scanner Centre has launched a new private prostate cancer screening MRI service for men without symptoms. To find out more and to book your scan, visit wwww.stricklandscanner.org.uk/prostate
Feature image: Paul Strickland Scanner Centre
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