Men should be offered ‘one-stop shop’ tests for prostate cancer, say experts

Men should be offered a ‘one-stop shop’ for prostate cancer tests similar to those widely available for breast cancer, experts say.

A pilot scheme in London found the time to make a diagnosis could be cut in half by fast-tracking men suspected of having the disease.

They were offered an MRI scan, with the results the same day – and in many cases a biopsy the same day if needed.

A study of the one-stop approach carried out on 2,130 men found they got a prostate cancer diagnosis or the all-clear just under 16 days after a GP referral.

Those who had the usual multiple appointments waited close to 32 days. But the ‘one-stop shop’ option – available in multiple hospitals and clinics for women with suspected breast cancer – is not being rolled out fast enough for prostate cancer, warn experts.

Senior study author Professor Hashim Ahmed, of Imperial College London, said: ‘A one-stop pathway for prostate cancer should be made available to as many centres as possible, as soon as possible, within this year. Speeding up diagnosis could help many men catch their cancer before it spreads.

‘For around a fifth of men diagnosed with prostate cancer, who are told that it has spread, a faster diagnosis means quicker treatment, which makes a difference.

‘For those who do not have cancer, finding this out quickly will save anxiety and distress.’

Oliver Kemp, chief executive of Prostate Cancer Research, said the one-stop method is ‘transformational – it can help save lives’.

Researchers found the cancer detection rate using the fast-track process was similar to that seen in 2,435 men investigated normally. Around a quarter of men at the one-stop centres were found to have prostate cancer which required medical treatment.

The three hospitals using the quicker method showed very similar results, suggesting it can be rolled out at various locations with different patient profiles.

Chiara De Biase, a director at Prostate Cancer UK, called for more research on how it could be implemented nationwide.

The technique – Rapid Assessment for Prostate Imaging and Diagnosis (RAPID) – was piloted from April 2017 to March 2020, with the results reported this year in the journal BJU International.

In a pilot scheme men were offered an MRI scan, with the results the same day – and in many cases a biopsy the same day if needed (file image)