Men should be offered ‘one-stop-shop’ tests for prostate cancer, similar to those widely available for breast cancer, to help save lives, experts say
- The arrangement meant that men were offered an MRI scan or even a biopsy on the same day
- London pilot meant that 2,130 men were either diagnosed or all clear within 16 days
Men should be given a “one-stop shop” for prostate cancer tests similar to those widely available for breast cancer, experts say.
A pilot project in London found that the time to make a diagnosis could be cut in half by quickly identifying men suspected of having the disease.
They were offered an MRI scan, with results the same day – and in many cases a biopsy the same day if necessary.
A study of the one-stop approach, conducted on 2,130 men, found that they received a prostate cancer diagnosis or all was safe just under 16 days after a GP referral.
Those who had the usual multiple appointments waited nearly 32 days. But the “one-stop-shop” option — available in multiple hospitals and clinics for women with suspected breast cancer — isn’t being rolled out quickly enough for prostate cancer, experts warn.
Men should get a ‘one-stop shop’ for prostate cancer tests similar to those widely available for breast cancer, experts say (file image)
Senior study author Professor Hashim Ahmed, from Imperial College London, said: ‘A one-stop pathway for prostate cancer should be made available to as many centers as possible as soon as possible within this year. Speeding up diagnosis could help many men catch their cancer before it spreads.
“For about a fifth of men diagnosed with prostate cancer, who are told it has spread, faster diagnosis means faster treatment, which makes a difference.
“For those who don’t have cancer, discovering this early will save fear and distress.”
Oliver Kemp, chief executive of Prostate Cancer Research, said the one-stop method is “transformative — it could help save lives.”
Researchers found that the cancer detection rate using the accelerated process was comparable to that of 2,435 men who were examined normally. About a quarter of the men in the one-stop centers were found to have prostate cancer that required medical treatment.
The three hospitals using the faster method showed very similar results, suggesting it could be rolled out in different locations with different patient profiles.
Chiara De Biase, a director at Prostate Cancer UK, called for more research into how to implement it nationwide.
The technique – Rapid Assessment for Prostate Imaging and Diagnosis (RAPID) – was tested from April 2017 to March 2020 and the results were reported this year in the journal BJU International.
In a pilot, men were offered an MRI scan, results the same day – and in many cases a biopsy the same day if necessary (file image)