Is there a new test for prostate cancer - to save going through the other, off-putting one

asks bronski
A. The 'off-putting one' you refer to is the digital rectal examination (DRE). Although it may not be the most agreeable of tests, it's painless and effective. Before it comes to that, however, you would usually be offered a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test, which looks for markers in the blood which would indicate prostate problems.

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The trouble with this test is that it can't distinguish between the slow-growing, non-aggressive form of the disease and the aggressive type which requires early diagnosis and treatment.

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But there is some good news. Some of the genes associated with the aggressive type of prostate cancer have been identified by scientists at the University of Michigan Medical School, which could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment.

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Q. And the bad news
A. The diagnostic test kits won't be available for three to five years.

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Q. How prevalent is prostate cancer
A. It's the commonest male cancer in the UK, affecting 20,000 men each year. Of those, 9,500 will die of it.

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Q. Who's at risk
A. Any man over 50, especially if there's a family history of the disease.
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Q. What are the symptoms
A. If the prostate gland grows for any reason, it can put pressure on the urethra, so symptoms may include:

• Needing to pee frequently and urgently
• Waking through the night to pee
• Interrupted flow of urine
• Pain while peeing
• Blood in the urine
• Hip or lower back pain.

NB These are symptoms of any prostate problem and not necessarily cancer. But anyone suffering from them should see their GP immediately for tests. (It is also possible to have prostate cancer and show no recognisable symptoms, so testing is a good idea.)

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Q. How can I prevent prostate cancer
A. It's well established that eating foods which are high in lycopene (especially tomatoes and tomato sauces) can significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer. However, the average British male eats far less than the amount needed for protection. A new study shows that taking a lycopene supplement - Lyc-O-Mato - which contains 15mg (the equivalent of six tomatoes) can help protect against prostate cancer.

Eating oily fish, too, can halve your chances of prostate cancer, according to a Swedish study.

Stop eating meat - vegetarians are half as likely to develop cancer as meat eaters.

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By Sheena Miller