A groundbreaking technique developed by scientists at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, could offer new hope for faster and more accessible prostate cancer detection . Using existing ultrasound equipment instead of expensive MRI scanners, the test could lead to early prostate cancer detection and prove to be cost-effective for patients.

The new technique has also shown promise in early trials where it displayed a 94% accuracy rate in identifying tumors. This can help transform diagnosis and treatment of the most common cancer in men in the UK.

How is the test conducted?
The test is carried out by injecting a solution with millions of tiny, harmless microbubbles into a vein, that travel through the patient's bloodstream to the prostate and are tracked using ultrasound technology. The altered blood flow in cancerous tissue is highlighted by the solution and is discovered on the ultrasound scan.

The early-stage clinical trials for the same have been completed and are extremely encouraging with an impressive 94% detection rate of prostate tumours.

When will this test be available?

The trials will continue for the next 3-5 years before the technique is launched in a clinical setting.

What the experts think about the test?

Professor Alan McNeill, a consultant urological surgeon at the Western General Hospital, told BBC that technology could help in greater precision in the treatment.

"The technology has the potential to significantly enhance diagnostic accuracy, help clinicians like me to carry out more targeted biopsies, and even focus treatments with greater precision.

"I can anticipate it benefiting treatments like focal therapy by allowing us to pinpoint and treat cancerous tissue with greater accuracy.

"Nearly every week, my colleagues and I meet men in their 50s or early 60s suffering from advanced prostate cancer that leaves them with fewer treatment options," he said.

What is prostate cancer

Prostate cancer occurs in the prostate, a small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. One of the most cancers in male, many prostate tumours grow slowly and are confined to the prostate gland, unlikely to cause serious harm. Some types of prostate cancers are aggressive and can spread rapidly. Prostate cancers that are detected early has the best chance for successful treatment.

Symptoms of prostate cancer

While in early stages, prostate cancer doesn't have any notable symptoms, in advanced stages, the signs include problems in urinating, decreased force in the stream of urine, blood in the urine, blood in the semen, bone pain, losing weight without trying, and erectile dysfunction.

(Picture courtesy: iStock)