Calls for overhaul of 'dangerously outdated' prostate cancer rules

OBSOLETE NHS prostate cancer must be urgently overhauled to save thousands of lives, a charity demands today.

- Hanna Geissler

GPs are not allowed to tell men who have no symptoms but are at highest risk that they can request a blood test which looks for hormone changes linked to the disease.

This is due to concerns that the prostate specific antigen test is not reliable enough and can lead to unnecessary biopsies which can cause sepsis in rare cases or needless treatment for low-risk cancers.

However, a major study suggests the test's risk-benefit ratio should be re-evaluated.

It found the introduction of new biopsy and scanning techniques had dramatically reduced the risk of harm for men flagged by the PSA test.

Prostate Cancer UK said guidelines were "dangerously outdated" and is calling for them to be changed so GPs can proactively raise the test with men at highest risk of prostate cancer, including black men and those with a family history.

Director of research, Dr Matthew Hobbs, said: "Current guidelines mean it's up to men to ask about a PSA blood test.