A New DNA-Based Diagnostic Test to Predict Prostate Cancer
Sometimes things just seem to occur randomly or by cosmic convergence. Yester.jpg)
day, my good friend Pete learned that he had prostate cancer. His prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels were slightly elevated over the past few years (they were in a gray zone that made a definitive diagnosis difficult without doing a biopsy). After being urged by his wife and urologist, he had the biopsy performed and, unfortunately, a diagnosis of prostate cancer was made. Hopefully, his cancer is localized to the prostate and will be easily treated via conventional therapies. As many of you may know, prostate cancer is easily treat and the cure rates high if it is detected early.
The use of PSA levels to diagnosis prostate cancer is notoriously unreliable and inaccurate.Today, a group of Swedish scientists announced that they developed a DNA-based test that showed that men carrying a combination of known risk genes run a four to five time higher risk of developing prostate cancer. They envision that this test could be used in tandem with PSA monitoring to more accurately diagnose prostate cancer. I hope that they are right!
Unfortunately, the new test wasn't developed in time to help Pete; but perhaps it can be used in the future to more accurately assess the risk and diagnose prostate cancer quickly so that treatment begins as soon as possible!
Until next time…
Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!!
