Prostate cancer symptoms as ultrasound could be used to diagnose illness

Ultrasound scans can now be used to diagnose prostate cancer, according to new research.

A clinical trial - carried out by researchers at Imperial College London, University College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - found that a new type of ultrasound can accurately detect prostate cancer cases.

In a clinical trial of 370 male participants, scans missed only 4.3 per cent of more clinically important prostate cancer cases.

Clinically important cases are cancers that require treatment opposed to simply being monitored.

Results were compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans that are currently used to identify prostate cancer cases.

MRI scans are both expensive and time-consuming.

The team believes that an ultrasound scan should be used as a first test or could be used in combination with current MRI scans to maximise cancer detection.

The study took pace across seven hospitals in the UK with the leading site based at Charing Cross Hospital in London - part of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

Research was carried out for over three years - between March 2016 and November 2019.

Ultrasound scans are easier, take less time and cost less than MRI scans. (Getty)

The study is published in Lancet Oncology.

Prostate cancer symptoms

According to the NHS, symptoms of prostate cancer can include:

• needing to pee more frequently, often during the night
• needing to rush to the toilet
• difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)
• straining or taking a long time while peeing
• weak flow
• feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
• blood in urine or blood in semen

A change in toilet habits and blood in the urine could be signs of prostate cancer. (Getty)

It is important to note that experiencing these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have prostate cancer.

Many men's prostates get larger as they get older because of a non-cancerous condition called benign prostate enlargement.

Signs that the cancer has spread include:

• bone pain
• back pain
• loss of appetite
• pain in the testicles
• unintentional weight loss

Stages of prostate cancer

There are three stages of prostate cancer from early to advanced. (Getty)

• Early or localised where it is still inside the prostate and has not spread to other parts of the body

• Locally advanced : At this stage the cancer has spread just outside the prostate capsule (covering) or into the seminal vesicles that lie just behind the prostate

• Advanced : This is where the cancer cells that spread away from the prostate and into the bloodstream or lymph channels. On reaching new site(s) the cancers cells may begin to grow which could cause the growth or another tumour

You can get more information about the stages of prostate cancer and what they mean on the Prostate Scotland website.

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