prostate cancer testing | Know Pathology Know Healthcare https://knowpathology.com.au The engine room of healthcare explained Mon, 29 Nov 2021 07:40:42 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://knowpathology.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KPKH_Favicon-32x32.png prostate cancer testing | Know Pathology Know Healthcare https://knowpathology.com.au 32 32 Prostate cancer checks for politicians “may have saved lives” says Warren Entsch MP https://knowpathology.com.au/prostate-cancer-checks-for-politicians-may-have-saved-lives/ Wed, 25 Sep 2019 18:26:43 +0000 http://knowpathology.com.au/?p=5734 Pathology testing for prostate cancer is crucial, so on 11th  September, Parliament House became a hub of pathology activity including onsite pathology collection for male MPs, Senators and their staff members who were offered prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests. As well as pathology collection, there was also a multi-header microscope at the event that allowed people … Continue reading Prostate cancer checks for politicians “may have saved lives” says Warren Entsch MP

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Pathology testing for prostate cancer is crucial, so on 11th  September, Parliament House became a hub of pathology activity including onsite pathology collection for male MPs, Senators and their staff members who were offered prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests.

As well as pathology collection, there was also a multi-header microscope at the event that allowed people to see what pathologists look for when they diagnose prostate cancer. In-depth educational materials were also provided by Lab Tests Online for those attending to learn more about prostate cancer tests.

The PSA testing event was scheduled to coincide with the Big Aussie Barbie, hosted by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. The Prime Minister Scott Morrison was in attendance, along with other notable Ministers.

“Nineteen thousand men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer just this year,” the Prime Minister said.

The Opposition Leader, Anthony Albanese, also spoke at the barbecue about his personal experience with PSA testing explaining that following a high reading he now gets tested every three months.

The PSA test measures the level of prostate-specific antigen in the blood. The test can be used as a tool to screen for prostate cancer as the PSA level is typically raised when there is a prostate tumour. However, PSA levels can be raised for a number of reasons so in cases of a high PSA result doctors will order further tests to determine the cause.

The Federal Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, attended the PSA testing event to have his blood test and said, “this testing program is immensely important. We’ve been able to support prostate cancer on a variety of fronts”.

The PSA levels of 50 parliamentarians were measured and all participants had their results communicated back to them on the same day.

Warren Entsch, one of the co-chairs for Parliamentary Friends of Prostate Cancer Awareness, said, as part of this event “we may have saved lives”.

As a consequence of the testing event all participants have had the opportunity to learn more about their health status with appropriate guidance from medical professionals.

Events at Parliament House run by the Pathology Awareness Australia team increase the awareness of the role of pathology in healthcare.

Chris Bowen, the Shadow Health Minister, attended the event on behalf of MP Jason Clare who is the other co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Prostate Cancer Awareness.

“Warren and I have been down this morning giving blood in the same booth at the same time in a bi-partisan effort to show, Labor or Liberal – we all bleed, and we all need to be checked,” said Chris Bowen MP.

Ahead of testing all men received counselling from a Chemical Pathologist or a General Practitioner on the pros and cons of PSA testing in line with the latest National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines.

The event served as an example of the role of pathology in providing critical information to guide medical decisions that occur hundreds of thousands of times every single day.

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Liquid biopsy could help catch aggressive prostate cancers earlier https://knowpathology.com.au/liquid-biopsy-could-help-catch-aggressive-prostate-cancers/ Thu, 26 Sep 2019 04:26:25 +0000 http://knowpathology.com.au/?p=5741 Fast and accurate diagnosis of cancer is essential to give patients the best chance of beating the disease and new research from Queen Mary University of London could give further hope in the fight against prostate cancer. The new liquid biopsy test trialled in the UK is a blood test to detect circulating tumour cells … Continue reading Liquid biopsy could help catch aggressive prostate cancers earlier

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Fast and accurate diagnosis of cancer is essential to give patients the best chance of beating the disease and new research from Queen Mary University of London could give further hope in the fight against prostate cancer.

The new liquid biopsy test trialled in the UK is a blood test to detect circulating tumour cells (CTCs) which have split from the original tumour to be found in the bloodstream. Researchers hope this test will indicate if a prostate tumour is likely to spread to other parts of the body (metastasise).

There are several pathology tests currently used to diagnose and monitor prostate cancer. A blood test that looks for Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is commonly used as a screening tool, and the results of this test may be the first red flag in the diagnostic chain.

Researchers found that when the CTC tests were combined with the PSA test, they could predict the presence of aggressive prostate cancer in subsequent biopsies with more than 90 per cent accuracy, better than any previously reported biomarkers.

Lead researcher Professor Yong-Jie Lu from Queen Mary University of London said: “Testing for circulating tumour cells is efficient, non-invasive and potentially accurate, and we’ve now demonstrated its potential to improve the current standard of care. By combining the new CTC analysis with the current PSA test, we were able to detect prostate cancer with the highest level of accuracy ever seen in any biomarker test.”

The number and type of CTCs present in the blood could also indicate how aggressive the cancer was, which can help doctors to determine what course of action is best for a patient.

As PSA levels can be raised for reasons other than cancer, PSA test results are used as a screening tool to identify men who may need more regular monitoring or further tests.

Chemical Pathologist, Associate Professor Ken Sikaris said Australia’s current screening practices work well, but new research in the area is welcome:

“It’s encouraging that research is progressing in this area, this study certainly shows potential but more studies are needed. We must be cautious when seeking to apply UK research to the Australian context as pathology practices and guidelines differ between countries. We want to encourage those eligible to discuss the PSA test with their doctor, and not to be fearful. It’s important to note that an abnormal PSA result does not automatically lead straight to another procedure such as a biopsy.”

Pathologists, other specialist doctors and patient organisations have worked together to develop the latest guidelines on PSA testing to maximise the benefits and minimise risk for patients.

High quality standards make Australia’s pathology services among the best in the world, but participation is key. Our fantastic pathology system and the tests we have available can only help Australians who take part in testing.

The guidelines recommend PSA testing every 2 years for men over 50, or if you have a family history of prostate cancer you may start testing from age 40.

Steve Callister, Chairman of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia told Channel 9: “Obviously more needs to be done. 3,500 men are dying and we need to make more men aware of catching it early.”

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Prostate cancer survivor meets the doctor that diagnosed him 11 years ago https://knowpathology.com.au/prostate-cancer-survivor-meets-the-doctor-that-diagnosed-him-11-years-ago/ Wed, 12 Jun 2019 06:13:28 +0000 http://knowpathology.com.au/?p=5576 Image: Prostate cancer survivor Vincent Jenkins (R) has a rare chance to meet anatomical pathologist Dr Peter Nguyen (L) who made his life changing diagnosis Unlike most patients who have been through cancer treatment, Vincent Jenkins has seen inside the laboratory where his diagnosis happened. At the Melbourne Pathology laboratory that diagnosed his prostate cancer, … Continue reading Prostate cancer survivor meets the doctor that diagnosed him 11 years ago

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Image: Prostate cancer survivor Vincent Jenkins (R) has a rare chance to meet anatomical pathologist Dr Peter Nguyen (L) who made his life changing diagnosis

Unlike most patients who have been through cancer treatment, Vincent Jenkins has seen inside the laboratory where his diagnosis happened.

At the Melbourne Pathology laboratory that diagnosed his prostate cancer, Vin was able to get a close look at his own prostate biopsy slides and meet with Dr Peter Nguyen, the pathologist whose diagnosis led to life-changing surgery.

Eleven years ago, Vin went to his GP for an annual check-up, and was recommended to have a PSA blood test and have his prostate checked.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men, and 100% of all cancers are diagnosed in pathology labs.

After surgery to remove his prostate, Vin has been in remission for 11 years. A keen golfer, he now lives an active lifestyle after his most recent brush with cancer.

Inside the lab Vin was able to learn how a biopsy examined by Dr Nguyen saved his life – and to meet Dr Nguyen for the very first time.

“This first test indicated that things were not normal, and I was told to come back in 6 months to see how things had progressed. It was then that we found that the situation had deteriorated.”

“I had never thought about having prostate cancer or even having a test,” said Vin, “that’s the scary thing – I had no symptoms whatsoever. I was asymptomatic, which is why I was so surprised to get back such high PSA test results.”

“After that my urologist suggested I have biopsies to check out my prostate. I was then diagnosed with prostate cancer and I was booked in for surgery about four weeks later,” said Vin, who retired from a career in marketing and advertising some years ago.

Anatomical pathologists like Dr Nguyen are the doctors who examine body tissue samples, such as Vin’s prostate biopsy, to diagnose disease and advise the medical team about treatment, as well as giving the all clear after successful surgery or therapy. Australia’s pathology sector boasts some of the highest quality standards in the world.

“The pathology is interesting to me, because after my prostate was removed, I was concerned that the cancer wasn’t confined to the prostate. However, the pathology tests confirmed that it was, which was a huge relief,” said Vin.

The 5-year survival rate for prostate cancer is 95%, however if cancer spreads to other parts of the body it is harder to treat.

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia CEO, Professor Jeff Dunn AO said:

“Regular health check-ups help with early detection, which is crucial in effectively fighting prostate cancer. Men over the age of 50 – or 40 if they have a family history of prostate cancer – need to talk with their GP about prostate health. If you fit the criteria, speak to your GP and remind your loved ones and friends to as well.”

Each year in Australia, approximately 20,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and around 3,500 die of the disease, meaning early diagnosis is crucial to save lives.

“That’s why we need to encourage men over 50 to have regular tests done. If you don’t have symptoms, you can still have cancer. And the most important thing is to catch it early, like I did,” said Vin.

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Politicians receive prostate tests at parliament house https://knowpathology.com.au/politicians-receive-prostate-tests-at-parliament-house/ Tue, 25 Sep 2018 01:16:42 +0000 http://knowpathology.com.au/?p=4770 September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month, and to underscore its importance, Pathology Awareness Australia and the Parliamentary Friends of Prostate Cancer Awareness invited male parliamentarians and staff in Canberra to get tested, to share stories about how they’ve been impacted by prostate cancer and to help spread awareness. It was a fantastic turn out with … Continue reading Politicians receive prostate tests at parliament house

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September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month, and to underscore its importance, Pathology Awareness Australia and the Parliamentary Friends of Prostate Cancer Awareness invited male parliamentarians and staff in Canberra to get tested, to share stories about how they’ve been impacted by prostate cancer and to help spread awareness.

It was a fantastic turn out with 217 men taking Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) tests. Amongst those tested were the Minister for the Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Shadow Minister for Transport & Infrastructure, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Agriculture & Water Resources, the Hon David Littleproud MP, and Assistant Minister for Roads & Transport, the Hon Scott Buchholz MP.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting Australian men, with 20,000 diagnosed with the disease each year. In 2018, it is estimated that 3,500 Australian men will die from prostate cancer.

Age and family history are the two major risk factors of developing prostate cancer.

The event – held in conjunction with Parliamentary Friends of Prostate Cancer Awareness Co-Chairs, the Hon Jason Clare MP and the Hon Warren Entsch MP – called on males over 50 to consider testing for prostate cancer.

Hon Jason Clare MP, who lost his grandfather to prostate cancer, said, “Unfortunately, a lot of men don’t get checked until it’s too late when all it takes is a simple blood test. Talk to your doctor and get tested. It might just save your life”.

Hon Warren Entsch MP said, “In many cases, Prostate Cancer might not show any symptoms before diagnosis. Therefore, it is advised to go for preventive screening, if you are over 50, or 40 if there is a family history.”

Dr. Mike Freelander MP said, “Prostate cancer has affected my family and as a Paediatrician I totally understand the seriousness of this issue. The interpretation of PSA test is not black and white, and I think it is important to screen people and understand whom to screen and whom not to screen. We need to work towards spreading more awareness about men’s health issues”.

The event provided a great opportunity to showcase to parliamentarians and to staff at Parliament House the efficacy of PSA testing and the guidelines surrounding it.

It was also a great opportunity to underscore the value of pathology to the Australian medical system and to the health of Australians.

The prostate awareness event is the second pathology screening event organised by Pathology Awareness Australia in parliament house this year. In July, PAA in conjunction with the Parliamentary Friends of Diabetes organised a diabetes testing event in the senate alcove in parliament house.

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