A new blood test may detect prostate cancer with more accuracy than the gold-standard tests currently available, according to researchers at the University of East Anglia, a research university in Norwich, England.
The test is called the Prostate Screening EpiSwitch or PSE. It combines the currently available PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) blood test with epigenetic testing, a form of genetic testing looking for specific prostate cancer markers.
According to researchers, the PSE test is 94-percent accurate.
The current PSA test does detect prostate cancer, but it is not perfect. Research shows that three to four men with elevated PSA levels will not have prostate cancer, and one in seven men with prostate cancer will have a normal PSA result.
If you have an elevated PSA level, your doctor may suggest a biopsy, which is invasive and can sometimes cause complications like infection or bleeding.
That is why researchers are focusing on new ways to detect prostate cancer like the PSE test.
For the study, 147 men were enrolled. Researchers compared the PSA test to the PSE test and found the PSE test increases accuracy for at-risk men.
“Further prospective larger scale studies of the new PSE test in a population screening cohort with low cancer prevalence would be an immediate next step in confirming and expanding PSE test utility,” according to researchers.
Prostate Cancer Screenings
Until more tests like the PSE are widely available, doctors recommend traditional screenings and checkups.
While the PSA test is one prostate cancer screening tool, your doctor may perform what’s called a Digital Rectal Exam or DRE, which is a physical test where doctors feel the prostate for abnormalities. If a potential problem is found, an MRI or biopsy may be the next course of action.
Prostate Cancer Symptoms
Keep in mind early-stage prostate cancer may not cause any symptoms. That’s why screening is important, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are several warning signs of prostate cancer. While they may be caused by other medical issues, you do not want to ignore any of them. Those symptoms include:
- Frequent urination, especially during the night
- Pain or burning while using the bathroom
- Changes to bathroom habits
- Pressure or pain in the rectum
- A weak or interrupted flow of urine
- Difficulty when you first start to urinate
- Trouble emptying the bladder
- Pain in the back, hip or pelvis that is persistent
- Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet
- Blood or urine in the semen
- Painful ejaculation
- Erectile dysfunction
According to the Urology Care Foundation other symptoms include:
- Weight loss
- Appetite loss
- Bone pain
Prostate Cancer Treatment
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, there are different treatment options depending on the stage of cancer, your age, and your overall health. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, other drug therapies, radiation, or a combination of treatment modalities.
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, nearly 300,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and of those more than 60,000 American men opt for radiation therapy to treat their prostate cancer.
The cure rate for prostate cancer with radiation is well-documented, and there is a proven safety track record. But not all radiation treatments are the same.
CyberKnife Miami for Prostate Cancer Care
CyberKnife, which uses a state-of-the-art form of radiation called stereotactic body radiation therapy or SBRT, has a 98% cure rate for prostate cancer. That’s just one reason more than 20,000 men have been treated with CyberKnife according to Accuray, the company that makes CyberKnife.
The experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami, who see prostate cancer patients on a regular basis agree. Here are some distinct advantages.
- It is noninvasive.
- There is no anesthesia or cutting.
- It does not come with the risks of surgery like infection and extended periods of downtime.
- CyberKnife’s treatments can be done in five therapy sessions over 10 days instead of 42 over three months with other types of radiation treatments.
- The CyberKnife radiation beams, which target and destroy the tumor, are exceedingly precise. That means there are less risks of side effects including impotence and incontinence. That is a relief to most men who are looking for alternative treatment options for prostate cancer.
“CyberKnife is an amazingly precise way to deliver radiation to the prostate,” says Dr. Mark Pomper, board-certified radiation oncologist and medical director of CyberKnife Miami on CyberKnife Miami’s YouTube Channel. “It’s not readily available in all places, but Miami is blessed to have the CyberKnife Center of Miami, which has an amazing amount of experience.”
Prostate Cancer Treatment Near Me
If you or someone you love is diagnosed with prostate cancer, contact the experts at CyberKnife Miami for a consultation. We treat patients from across South Florida, the United States and even around the world.
If you would like to find out more about prostate cancer treatment with CyberKnife, call us at 305-279-2900 or go to our prostate cancer website now for more information.
For all the latest cancer news follow us on Facebook – Instagram and YouTube.