Stockholm3 Test for Prostate Cancer
A patient shared their experience with us, and we believe it is a story that deserves to be highlighted. Her husband, who has been undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, began his journey with us last November when he had a Stockholm 3 prostate cancer screening at our Hartley Wintney clinic.
The test revealed an increased risk of prostate cancer, prompting a referral to a specialist. After a series of biopsies, the diagnosis was confirmed: he did indeed have cancer. Thankfully, it had been caught early, which significantly improved his treatment options. His consultant explained that, had it not been for the screening, he likely wouldn’t have shown symptoms for many years, and the cancer could have spread beyond the prostate before it was detected.
This experience underscores the critical importance of early detection. It’s a powerful reminder of how screening can play a life-changing role in catching potential health issues before they progress, and we are incredibly grateful that this patient chose to share their story with us.
Prostate Cancer
In this blog, we explain the traditional prostate-specific antigen test (PSA) for prostate cancer, why it isn’t always accurate in detecting the disease, and how the Stockholm 3 test can reduce the need for painful and unnecessary tests, and improve the early detection of aggressive forms of prostate cancer.
Diagnosis of prostate cancer
According to Cancer Research UK, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in UK males and accounts for more than a quarter (27%) of male cases. There are around 52,300 new prostate cancer cases in the UK every year – that’s more than 140 every day.
Early signs of prostate cancer are difficult to detect as they are often not noticeable until the disease has progressed.
Some early signs include:
Difficulty urinating
Frequent urination
Blood in the urine or semen
Erectile dysfunction
These symptoms can also indicate other conditions, making it important to consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation.
An April 2024 article by Guardian Health editor, Andrew Gregory, reports on a study published in the Lancet highlighting the number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer worldwide is projected to double to 2.9 million a year by 2040, with annual death predicted to rise by 85%.
With population ageing and life expectancy rising globally, a dramatic surge in cases and death is forecast over the next 15 years.
Testing for prostate cancer
Prostate cancer can be difficult to detect because it often develops slowly and may not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages. This lack of symptoms is why prostate screening helps to catch and treat the disease in its early stages.
Prostate screening involves testing for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in the blood.
However, the PSA test is not foolproof in distinguishing between slow-growing (low-risk) and aggressive (high-risk) forms of prostate cancer. As a result, the PSA test can lead to false-positive results, where a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer that would not have caused any harm in his lifetime. This diagnosis can lead to unnecessary investigations such as MRI, biopsies, and surgery.
On the other hand, the PSA test can also miss aggressive forms of prostate cancer, leading to false-negative results. This misleading result can delay the diagnosis and treatment of aggressive cancer, which can be life-threatening.
Stockholm 3 screening for prostate cancer
Early detection is key to the successful treatment of prostate cancer. Stockholm 3 is a genetic risk test and provides a more accurate screening to improve early detection rates of high risk prostate cancer while also reducing the problem of over-detection.
The test is more accurate than the traditional PSA test, as it can distinguish between aggressive and non-aggressive forms of prostate cancer, reducing unnecessary treatments and biopsies. The Stockholm 3 test has been shown to improve detection rates and reduce the number of false positive results, making it a valuable tool for the early detection of prostate cancer (see our Blog – The Future of Prostate Cancer Diagnostics
What age should men consider testing for prostate cancer?
Surprisingly, There is currently no NHS screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK.
In general, men aged 45-75 years onwards should consider prostate cancer screening. However, men with a higher risk of developing cancer, such as those with a family history of the disease, may wish to begin screening earlier.
If detected early, prostate cancer can be treated and survival is highly likely.
Contact the clinic on 01252 915333 for more information or to make a screening appointment.
Further reading on prostate cancer:
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer
The Guardian article on increased prostate cancer diagnosis:
The Lancet journal on screening for prostate cancer:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045%2821%2900348-X/fulltext
