News
News > January 2020 > Prostate Cancer – Good News!

Prostate Cancer – Good News!

01 January 2019

NICE Recommends MRI Scans for Suspected Prostate Cancer BEFORE Biopsy

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have issued Guideline CG175 stating that men with a raised PSA blood test who require further investigation to diagnose or rule out underlying prostate cancer (PCa) with a view to radical treatment should no longer  proceed directly to an invasive prostate biopsy but instead should be offered a multi-parametric MRI scan.

Clinical trials comparing mpMRI with standard ultrasound guided (TRUS) biopsy have shown that mpMRI is much more accurate in detecting PCa and that PCa seen on mpMRI is significant and usually needs treatment.  On the other hand when the mpMRI is normal, it is much less likely that a significant PCa is present.  Such patients can then safely wait on a closely supervised “Active Surveillance” programme.  About a third of patients presenting with a raised PSA but normal-feeling prostate can thus avoid an invasive TRUS biopsy.

There are however still some problems to overcome.

Firstly, GPs cannot order mpMRI scans and not all UK urology departments have appropriate MRI scanners.

Secondly, there is a shortage of radiologists trained to report mpMRI scans and reporting criteria have only just been standardised.

Thirdly, if a scan is normal, there may still be an underlying cancer present as it has been shown that half of such men placed on “Active Surveillance” subsequently develop signs of cancer progression and require active treatment.

Despite these caveats, this is a major step forward which virtually nullifies the argument that PSA screening for PCa leads to “over-diagnosis”.  Furthermore, now that Active Surveillance has become the standard UK management of insignificant, non-aggressive PCa, the “over-treatment” argument no longer carries much weight.  These historical arguments against screening now have to be weighed against the latest PCa screening evidence showing a 64% fall in          PCa mortality in a screening programme involving over 400,000 men just reported from Northern California! ref

Although the UK has no formal screening programme, the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme entitles UK men over the age of 50 to have a PSA test.  It also flags up those men who are at higher risk of PCa and who should unquestionably be in a screening programme from their 40s until at least their mid 70s:  men with a family history of PCa, or breast cancer on their female side, and black men of African or Caribbean heritage.

CHAPS Charity has contributed positively to this NICE guideline updated recommendation which will be published in April 2019.

Reference:
Alpert PF.  Urology. 2018; 118: 119-126

About CHAPS

Find out more

Prostate Diseases and Prostate Cancer

Find out more

NHS Health Check

Find out more

Useful Links

Explore

Health in the Workplace

Find out more

Events

Learn more

Latest News & Events

Response To BBC News Article

MRI Scanning and Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

29 August 2023 | News

Continue Reading

Committee of Volunteers Champion Prostate Cancer Screening

Free Prostate Screening and Men's Health Event Announced in Basildon

23 August 2023 | News

Continue Reading

Thurrock Free Men's Health Check

Prostate Awareness Screening flyer

21 January 2022 | News

Continue Reading

NHS Health Checks in collaboration with CHAPS

NHS Health Checks in collaboration with CHAPS: Book your appointment today!

25 September 2021 | News

Continue Reading

Peter's Story

If a year of Covid has made us appreciate all that we have taken for granted for so long, ju…

20 May 2021 | News

Continue Reading

European Experts Advocate Population-based Screening – April 2020

The European Association of Urology have now published a position paper in the journal Europ…

09 July 2020 | News

Continue Reading

European Association of Urology backs Prostate Cancer Screening

Please find below an article which we hope you may find of interest.

09 April 2020 | News

Continue Reading

NSC Submission

Prostate Cancer (PCa) screening with the simple blood test PSA aims to detect PCa at an earl…

09 February 2020 | News

Continue Reading

CHAPS - HOLBORN- FREE PSA TESTING FOR THE METGL

  • Wednesday 20 Mar 2024
  • 10:00-14:00
  • Freemasons Hall Access via The Tower Doors (WC2B 5AZ)
Book

CHAPS - HOLBORN- General Public PSA Testing for Metropolitan Grand Lodge

  • Wednesday 20 Mar 2024
  • 10:00-14:00
  • Freemasons Hall Access via The Tower Doors (WC2B 5AZ)
Book

CHAPS - KENTON - MIDDLESEX MASONS HIGH RISK CALL BACK EVENT

  • Saturday 06 Apr 2024
  • 09:00-11:00
  • Harrow District Masonic Centre (HA3 0EL)
Book

CHAPS - FELIXSTOWE - PSA TESTING FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT PROVISIONAL GRAND LODGE OF SUFFOLK

  • Monday 08 Apr 2024
  • 17:30-20:30
  • Provincial Grand Lodge of Suffolk (IP11 7PL)
Book

CHAPS - FELIXSTOWE - PSA TESTING FOR THE PROVISIONAL GRAND LODGE OF SUFFOLK

  • Monday 08 Apr 2024
  • 17:30-20:30
  • Provincial Grand Lodge of Suffolk (IP11 7PL)
Book

CHAPS - TWICKENHAM - MIDDLESEX MASONS HIGH RISK CALL BACK EVENT - Cole Court

  • Friday 12 Apr 2024
  • 09:00-11:00
  • Twickenham Masonic Centre (TW1 1HD)
Book

CHAPS - SOUTHEND - PSA TESTING EVENT FOR GENERAL PUBLIC

  • Tuesday 16 Apr 2024
  • 10:00-14:00
  • Saxon Hall - Masonic Centre (SS2 6UN)
Book

CHAPS - SOUTHEND - PSA TESTING EVENT FOR ESSEX MASONS

  • Tuesday 16 Apr 2024
  • 10:00-14:00
  • Saxon Hall - Masonic Centre (SS2 6UN)
Book

CHAPS - PSA TESTING FOR IPSWICH GOLF CLUB

  • Wednesday 24 Apr 2024
  • 18:00-21:00
  • Ipswich Golf Club (IP3 8UQ)
Book

CHAPS - HARWICH - MENS HEALTH EVENING FREE PSA TESTING

  • Wednesday 01 May 2024
  • 17:30-20:30
  • Harwich and Dovercourt Rugby Club (CO12 3TA)
Book

Reading

The Who, Why, What, And How Of Prostate Cancer Screening

Read

Key Issues And How To Get Advice


Read

What All Men Need To Know


Read

Stay In Touch With CHAPS

CHAPS
The Master Weaver’s House
Southfields
Dedham
Essex
CO7 6AH

Helpline

01206 321253


 

Actively Supporting Men’s
Health And Wellbeing

Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter
Registered Charity no. 1045849 | Privacy Policy
Powered By Empresa