Home saliva test to detect prostate cancer “better than blood samples” – and could “turn the tide” on deadly diseases

MEN could be screened for prostate cancer with a simple saliva test, after a study found it works better than blood tests.

This could save unnecessary doctor visits and embarrassing physical exams.

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Scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research in London said the DIY spit test would detect more aggressive tumors and lead to fewer false alarms than the current NHS system.

Men simply spit into a tube at home and send the sample for laboratory analysis.

Your DNA is checked for high-risk genes or damage that could indicate prostate cancer, which is the most common type in men, with 52,000 cases per year.

Patients with more concerning results are referred for further scans and tests, while those with low-risk scores can be discharged.

Study author Professor Ros Eeles, from the ICR and Royal Marsden Hospital, said: “This trial could turn the tide on prostate cancer.

“We have shown that a simple and inexpensive saliva test to identify men at higher risk due to their genetic makeup is an effective tool for detecting cancer early.

“We can identify men at risk for aggressive cancers who need further testing and spare men at lower risk from unnecessary treatments.

“Our next The next step will be to test genetic markers in diverse populations to ensure that this test can benefit all men.”

The study, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference, tested the test on 6,142 men in doctors’ practices in the United Kingdom.

He found 187 cases of prostate cancer and said many would not have been detected by blood tests or MRI alone.

There are currently no routine screenings for prostate cancer because prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests give many false positive results.

The new study will be part of a multimillion-dollar government trial to discover the best way to track the disease in the public.

This Test Could Turn the Tide on Prostate Cancer

Professor Ros Eeles, from ICR and Royal Marsden Hospital

Men are at greater risk of prostate cancer if they are over 50, overweight or black.

It develops in the prostate, between the bladder and the intestine, and causes problems with going to the bathroom and having sex.

Survival rates are high, with 80% surviving 10 years or more after diagnosis, but treatment can have unpleasant side effects if tumors are not detected early.

Simon Grieveson, from Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Too many men in the UK are being diagnosed with advanced, incurable prostate cancer.

“An effective and cost-effective way to screen men would have a huge impact, giving thousands of men a year the opportunity for an earlier diagnosis and a longer, healthier life.”