Record deaths – and screening is in the news twice

The numbers dying from prostate cancer in the UK exceeded 12,000 in 2019 for the first time ever. Prostate Cancer UK said it has renewed its MANifesto to “unite the brightest minds in science and healthcare and the most passionate and caring people to deliver the future men deserve”. See more here and here. And screening was in the news again. Margaret McCartney, a GP and author, wrote in The Guardian that “detecting PCa early has little effect on death rates and can lead to unnecessary suffering”. But then the BBC reported that a large new trial is testing whether MRI scans could be an effective way to screen for this cancer. Leading expert Prof Mark Emberton explained why finding a suitable screening method for this common cancer is vital but has proved difficult. See the article here:

Informal meeting next, then two walks

The next BAWA members’ meeting will be on an informal one on March 2 (7pm). Directions here. And Chris Millett will lead this year’s walks: Spring one on Friday April 3, Ashton Court, autumn one Friday October 2. Clapton in Gordano. More later.

Coffee mornings held at the Macmillan Centre, Southmead Hospital, on the first Thursday of each month (10am-12.30), to help new patients. A few more members are needed to help out. Please contact our chairman.

Hormone treatment researched

An online survey aiming to shed more light on the daily experience of prostate cancer patients undergoing hormonal therapy (ADT) is being conducted by Caterina Gentili, a PhD researcher from the Centre for Appearance Research (University of the West of England, Bristol). The survey takes only 10 to 20 minutes. As a thank-you, you will have the chance to enter a raffle to win a ÂŁ70 online shopping voucher. If you would like to take part, please follow this link

Any questions? Get in touch with Caterina phone: 0117 328 2654; Email: caterina2.gentili@live.uwe.ac.uk  or by mail: UWE, Bristol BS16 1QY

New hope for advanced cancer men

A new treatment is being tested that could extend the lives of men with advanced prostate cancer, by killing cancer in the prostate despite the disease having already spread. The nationwide Atlanta trial, at Imperial College London, is to recruit 918 men newly-diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. Read more here.  And positive results have been reported from a clinical trial that tested the PARP-inhibitor olaparib (Lynparza) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have alterations in certain DNA damage repair genes. Roughly 20-30% of these patients harbour these gene mutations in their tumours and thus may benefit from olaparib.

Killer virus attacks cancer

A genetically modified virus that kills cancer cells and destroys their hiding places has been developed by British scientists. The dual- action virus targets both cancer cells and healthy cells which have been tricked into protecting the cancer from the immune system The Oxford University study is the first time cancer-associated fibroblasts or CAFs within solid tumours have been specifically targeted in this way (Nov ’19). See more here. And a simple new blood test has been found to efficiently and accurately detect aggressive prostate cancer, according to research by Queen Mary University of London. With the PSA test, the new test could help men avoid unnecessary and invasive biopsies, over-diagnosis and over-treatment. The results need to be validated in other independent research centres before the new test is available privately or on the NHS, which could take 3-5 more years (Oct ’19). See more here. And UK researchers have developed a urine test to diagnose aggressive prostate cancer and predict whether patients will need treatment up to five years earlier than standard clinical methods (Jun ’19). See more here

Tracking down tumours

A radical ‘seek and destroy’ treatment could extend the lives of thousands of men with advanced prostate cancer. The approach is described by experts as ‘game changing’ (Jun ’19). See more at

MRI scans to replace PSA?

Hundreds of UK men are trying out a non-invasive MRI scan for prostate cancer to see if it should eventually be offered routinely on the NHS. The scan takes images to check for any abnormal growths. It will take a few years to know if MRI will be better than PSA tests and biopsies at spotting cancers (Jun ’19). In this article, leading expert Prof Mark Emberton explains why finding a suitable screening method is vital but has proved difficult so far. And Prostate Cancer UK said the news made headlines but journalists “can be overly enthusiastic about new research” and put the record straight here. And an academic article on this suibject is to be found here

A first for advanced patients

GenesisCare announced that the first UK patients have been treated with Theranostics personalised treatment for advanced prostate cancer outside a clinical trial. This is the first time this treatment has been clinically available in the UK, bringing new hope for patients with late stage prostate cancer (Jun ’19). More info here. And videos of patients who are have had the PSMA therapy and want to share their experience are available here. And there are individual patients’ experiences here
and here

Drugs to attack resistant cancer

The world’s first drugs designed to stop cancer cells becoming resistant to treatment could be available within the next decade, scientists have said. A ÂŁ75m investment to develop the drugs has been announced by the Institute of Cancer Research (May ’19). See more here

Help with treatment – but beware

AN NHS tool is now available – intended for men with non-metastatic prostate cancer who are deciding between conservative and radical management regimes. It is intended only for men with non-metastatic prostate cancer who are deciding between conservative and radical management regimes. It’s recommend that patients use this tool in consultation with their doctor (Apr ’19). See here. You may have read about this tool in newspapers, but not all the news was 100% accurate – check this NHS Behind The Headlines Page for the facts.. And four new technologies that will tame the immune system are getting us closer to a future where cancer becomes curable. See more here

Cancer survival rates published

Public Health England has published a statistical bulletin on survival rates (1-year and 5-year) for many types of cancer based on more recent data than previously available. If PCa is diagnosed at stages 1, 2 or 3, the 1-year survival rate is as good as for everyone else and the 5-year rate is the same for stages 1 and 2 (>96% for stage 3). Hence the importance of early diagnosis. A summary of the stats is to be found here with a link to the full report

A Bristol first – and sparing nerves

A Bristol man is the first NHS patient to have a device implanted which can reduce the side effects of radiotherapy by 70%. Alan Clarke first had radiotherapy in 2011 but the cancer returned. He was chosen to be first to receive the spacer because he was considered to be more at risk of suffering side effects from a second course of radiotherapy (see more here). And a trial to spare the nerves around the prostate during surgery is being held at Southmead Hospital. if successful, it will reduce the risk of erectile disfunction and will be available throughout England. The trial featured on BBC Points West on January 23 ’19. More news on the Newsletter page.