With one quick at-home spit test, men may be able to find out if they’re at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, according to Cancer Research UK.
The research was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago earlier this year.
“With this test, it could be possible to turn the tide on prostate cancer,” said Ros Eeles, a professor at the Institute of Cancer Research and a consultant at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, which jointly led the research. ”We have shown that a simple, cheap spit test to identify men at higher risk due to their genetic makeup is an effective tool to catch the cancer early.”
Six-thousand men in Europe between the ages of 55 and 69 took part in what’s called the Barcode 1 trial measuring polygenic risk scores or (PRSs). Among those participants was Dheeresh Turnbull, a 77-year-old from Brighton, England.
“I was completely shocked when I received my diagnosis as I had absolutely no symptoms at all, so I know I would never have been diagnosed at this stage if I hadn’t joined the trial,” Dheeresh told the Guardian.
After his diagnosis, his younger brother got tested as well.
“He also had an aggressive tumor in the prostate. It’s incredible to think that because of this study two lives have now been saved in my family,” Dheeresh said.
Genetic testing is an important step forward in the fight against prostate cancer.
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, five-to-10-percent of all cancers are hereditary. All patients with prostate cancer who have certain characteristics like a family history of prostate cancer are encouraged to get genetic testing to see if they have an inherited mutation. Genetic testing can also help determine a patient’s treatment options.
Genetic testing gives patients and doctors knowledge, but there are downsides as well according to the National Cancer Institute including false positives, false negatives leading to a false sense of security and individuals acting on incorrect or incomplete information.
Since testing is not 100% accurate, patients have to be their own advocates – in terms of testing, knowledge and treatment.
Prostate Cancer Symptoms and Treatments
If you develop symptoms of prostate cancer like erectile dysfunction, problems with urination, weight loss, blood in the urine, or pain in the back, hips or thighs – go see your doctor. You may need screening and testing. Better safe than sorry.
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, there are different treatment options — depending on the type and stage of cancer, your age and your overall health — including surgery, chemotherapy, other drug therapies and radiation.
But before you make your decision, seek a second opinion from the experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami.
CyberKnife Miami for Prostate Cancer Care
CyberKnife is a kinder, gentler form of radiation, which uses state-of-the-art stereotactic body radiation therapy or SBRT. It has a 98% cure rate for prostate cancer detected early. That’s just one reason more than 20,000 men have been treated with CyberKnife according to Accuray, the company that makes CyberKnife. CyberKnife is non-invasive, has little to no downtime and can be completed in five treatments over just 10 days. Traditional radiation takes 42 treatments over three months. Plus, 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’s a relief to most men who are looking for alternative treatment options for prostate cancer.
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.