Latest news with #healthscreening
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
NHS could start offering breast cancer checks to women in their thirties
Millions of women in their thirties could be offered breast cancer checks on the NHS after a world-first trial identified those with a higher risk of developing the disease. Currently, women are only eligible for breast screening from the age of 50. But about 10,000 women under 50 are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year, including 2,400 in their thirties. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women aged 35 to 50. Now doctors leading a major study named in memory of the singer Sarah Harding say all women should undergo a comprehensive risk assessment when they turn 30. Harding, who was part of the pop group Girls Aloud, died from the disease aged 39 in 2021 and one of her final wishes was to find new ways of spotting breast cancer early, when it is more treatable. The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment in Young Women (Bcan-Ray) project, run by the Christie hospital in Manchester where Harding was treated, is the first of its kind in the world to identify which younger women are at increased risk of the disease. Early results from the study show that about one in five women aged between 30 and 39 years old have been identified at increased risk. They are being given information on steps they can take to reduce their odds of developing the disease. They will also be offered yearly check-ups until they reach the age when they are eligible for NHS breast cancer screening at the age of 50. In a statement, Girls Aloud – Cheryl Tweedy, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh – said Harding would be 'thrilled' by the early results from the Bcan-Ray study. 'To hear that women who had no idea they could be at risk of breast cancer are being identified and able to take preventative measures is astounding. 'This study in Sarah's name has the potential to be lifesaving and we are hopeful the results will be rolled out across the UK allowing doctors to predict and prevent breast cancer for many women. Sarah was an amazing woman and we couldn't be more proud of the legacy she has left.' The study, funded by the Christie Charity's Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal, began in May 2023 and has recruited 719 women from the Greater Manchester and Cheshire area aged 30 to 39. Women who take part are asked to complete a questionnaire, have a risk assessment mammogram and provide a saliva sample for genetic testing. Information from the mammogram and the genetic test are then combined with other factors such as when a woman's periods started, alcohol consumption and use of the contraceptive pill, to provide a personalised breast cancer risk score. To date, researchers have calculated a risk score for 548, with 104 found to be at 'increased risk'. Those at increased risk have consultations to discuss the implication of their increase in risk, including strategies to reduce risk through exercise, diet and medication advice. Early breast screening is offered when the risk hits a certain level, which is at different ages for each woman. The trial is being expanded to other hospitals across the UK as senior NHS officials develop a national cancer plan, which will aim to improve diagnosis and treatment. The study is being led by Dr Sacha Howell, who was Harding's consultant when she was being treated at the Christie. On Saturday, he will chair a panel on prevention, risk reduction and genetics at the world's largest cancer conference, the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting, in Chicago. Speaking before the discussion, Howell said all women should undergo 'comprehensive risk assessment' from the age of 30. This would mean DNA tests and health questionnaires as a minimum, with annual mammograms for some. 'Breast cancer is the most common cause of death in women aged 35 to 50 in this country and about two-thirds of women who develop breast cancer don't have a family history of it.' He added: 'What we want to do is to try and identify women at increased risk so that we can start screening early and reduce the chances of these women dying.' The definition of 'higher risk' means a 3% chance of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years. This is the average risk for a woman aged 50 and over, which is why mammograms are offered routinely then. The Christie project is one of the world's first research programmes to identify breast cancer risks in younger women without a family history of the disease – mirroring Harding's own experience. Howell said the singer had spoken to him many times about 'wanting to leave a legacy for future women'. Final results are expected o be published next year and fed into the UK national screening committee, after which trials may be rolled out more widely to determine whether all women in their thirties should be offered risk screening. 'I would like all women over 30 to have a breast cancer risk assessment,' Howell said. 'That doesn't have to be a mammogram, probably the most powerful part of this is the DNA analysis.' Prof Peter Johnson, the NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: 'We are working closely with government on a national cancer plan to ensure the NHS continues to deliver progress in diagnosing more cancers earlier and saving lives, and this research provides valuable information about the potential for more personalised approaches to screening. 'If women are worried about any symptoms, whatever their age, or if they notice a change in their bodies or something that's unusual for them, then I would encourage them to contact their GP.'
CBS News
20-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Biden's last prostate cancer blood test was in 2014, spokesperson says
Former President Joe Biden received his last known blood test to check for prostate cancer in 2014, a spokesperson said Tuesday — two days after Biden revealed he has an aggressive form of prostate cancer. "Prior to Friday, President Biden had never been diagnosed with prostate cancer," the spokesperson added. Biden turned 72 in 2014, putting him toward the end of the typical age range for prostate cancer screenings. Doctors generally recommend halting routine testing after the age of 70 or 75 because prostate cancer is often slow-growing in older men, and the risks of testing and treatment can outweigh the benefits, CBS News medical contributor Dr. Céline Gounder says. President Trump on Monday speculated about how long Biden may have had cancer, saying he's "surprised" that "the public wasn't notified a long time ago." The spokesperson said Biden's 2014 exam — administered when he was vice president — was a prostate specific antigen test, a type of blood test. It's one of two forms of prostate cancer screening, along with a digital rectal exam conducted by a doctor. Biden had a physical in early 2024, during the last year of his presidency. A six-page report released at the time by his physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, did not mention testing for prostate cancer, and described him as generally healthy. In 2019, Biden was diagnosed with benign enlargement of the prostate, a very common condition that affects about 80% of men over 70. The former president was diagnosed with an "aggressive" form of prostate cancer on Friday, his office said Sunday. He was evaluated after a "small nodule" was found in his prostate during a routine exam, his team disclosed earlier this month. Biden's office said his cancer has a Gleason score of 9 — the second-highest value on the prostate cancer grading system — "with metastasis to the bone." The statement added that "the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management." Joe Walsh Joe Walsh is a senior editor for digital politics at CBS News. Joe previously covered breaking news for Forbes and local news in Boston. contributed to this report.
Geek Wire
20-05-2025
- Business
- Geek Wire
Reperio Health raises $14M for national expansion of its in-home health services
Travis Rush, co-founder and CEO of Reperio Health. (Reperio Photo) Reperio Health, a Portland, Ore.-based startup providing in-home health screenings, raised $14 million in funding, Endpoints News reports. The new cash allows Reperio to expand its recently launched telehealth services beyond Oregon and Washington to patients nationally. The company, which launched in 2020, provides kits that include tests for blood pressure and heart rate; a scale and tape measure for determining body mass index; and devices for blood tests that generate instant data for cholesterol, triglycerides, lipids and glucose levels. An app walks users through the tests and the results are uploaded directly from the devices via a Bluetooth connection. With the addition of telehealth services, the users of the home testing kits can discuss their results with a healthcare provider. The devices are returned to Reperio and sterilized for reuse. Reperio's customers include employers, health plans, medical providers and individuals. CEO Travis Rush and Chief Technology Officer Matt Wallington co-founded Reperio after working together at Sightbox, a company that Rush launched and that which offered a subscription plan for eye exams and contact lens fittings and supplies. Johnson & Johnson acquired the startup in 2017 for an undisclosed sum. Reperio has raised a total of $32 milllion, Endpoints reported, and Caduceus Capital Partners led the new round.
Washington Post
19-05-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
Biden's cancer renews debate about prostate screenings for older men
Former president Joe Biden's newly diagnosed prostate cancer, an aggressive form that has spread to his bones, has renewed the debate about who should receive annual screenings for signs of the disease. Prostate cancer, the second most common cause of cancer deaths for men, kills 35,000 a year. Sunday's announcement of Biden's illness incited unsubstantiated speculation online that the former president could have known long ago, perhaps through testing or symptoms, that he had cancer. His medical records as president do not indicate whether his blood tests included screening for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which, when elevated, can indicate a higher risk of prostate cancer.
CNN
19-05-2025
- Health
- CNN
President Biden's metastatic prostate cancer diagnosis: What you need to know
EDITOR'S NOTE: Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt is a urologist and robotic surgeon with Orlando Health and an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida's College of Medicine. President Joe Biden's diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer has understandably raised concerns and questions: How long has he had cancer, how will he be treated, and what is his prognosis? As a urologist, I regularly diagnose prostate cancer in my patients, and each time I share the diagnosis with them and their family, it's never easy. Over time, I've learned the importance of keeping conversations simple and straightforward — avoiding sugar-coating and instead using data, statistics and personal experience to help patients begin their cancer journey. As his public announcement draws attention to this type of cancer, it's a reminder to regularly check on your own health. Here's what you need to know about metastatic prostate cancer: how it's detected, what treatments look like, and why early screening remains essential for men's health. The former president's diagnosis began after he experienced 'increasing urinary symptoms,' his office said, and a prostate nodule was discovered. The detection of a prostate nodule likely happened during a digital rectal examination (DRE). During a DRE, a doctor gently inserts a finger into the rectum to examine the prostate gland, located directly in front of the rectal wall. A healthy prostate typically feels smooth and symmetrical. A prostate nodule, however, feels firm, raised, and irregular — similar in texture to your knuckles. Not all prostate nodules indicate cancer — many are benign and associated with conditions enlarged prostate (BPH), or prostate stones (calcifications). However, in Biden's case, further testing — likely including a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, imaging and biopsy — confirmed prostate cancer. Additional scans revealed that his cancer had spread to his bones, classifying it as high-risk, aggressive metastatic prostate cancer. 'Metastatic' means the cancer cells have spread beyond the original location (the prostate gland) into other areas — most commonly bones and lymph nodes. Biden's cancer has specifically spread to his bones, placing him among the 5% to 7% of prostate cancer cases in the United States that are metastatic at initial diagnosis. While this percentage seems small, it represents a significant number given that over 300,000 men in the US and approximately 1.5 million worldwide are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. Early-stage prostate cancer carries an excellent prognosis, with nearly a 100% five-year survival rate. However, when prostate cancer is metastatic at diagnosis, the five-year survival rate drops sharply to around 37%. Importantly, these survival rates are statistical averages, and individual outcomes vary considerably based on overall health, age, cancer aggressiveness, and how well a patient responds to treatment. For Biden — and all prostate cancer patients — this diagnosis marks the beginning of a highly personalized journey. It remains impossible right now to accurately answer the question, 'How long do I have?' Which of course is the question everyone wants answered. Why your Gleason score matters Prostate cancer severity is graded using a Gleason score, which ranges from 6 to 10. Lower scores (6–7) indicate slower-growing, less aggressive cancer cells, while higher scores (8–10) represent aggressive cancers more likely to spread quickly. Biden's Gleason score of 9 signifies a highly aggressive prostate cancer that usually requires immediate and comprehensive treatment. In my clinic, the moment of diagnosing advanced prostate cancer is always difficult, evoking fear, uncertainty and many questions. At that moment, I ask the patient to take a deep breath, slow down and work together as we build a care team. This multidisciplinary team may include specialists from urology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology and supportive care services. Each specialist contributes a unique perspective, helping to create a treatment plan that has the best interest of the patient and their life goals. Prostate cancer treatment options Localized prostate cancer can often be cured with treatments such as robotic-assisted prostate removal (prostatectomy) or radiation therapy. However, metastatic prostate cancer treatment shifts from cure to managing symptoms, controlling disease progression and maintaining quality of life. Common treatments for metastatic prostate cancer include: Hormone therapy (androgen deprivation therapy, ADT): Blocks testosterone, essential for prostate cancer cell growth. Chemotherapy: Drugs to slow cancer growth, particularly when hormone therapy alone is insufficient. Radiation therapy: Targets metastatic lesions, reducing pain and symptoms, especially in bones. Immunotherapy and precision medicine: Treatments leveraging the immune system to attack cancer cells or therapies targeting specific genetic markers. Supportive care: Symptom relief and quality-of-life enhancement. Advanced treatments effectively control metastatic prostate cancer but often come with side effects affecting daily life. Common side effects include fatigue, changes in sexual function, hot flashes, mood swings, and loss of muscle mass. Treatment for metastatic prostate cancer depends on several factors: the patient's overall health, age, other medical conditions and personal preferences. President Biden's medical team will carefully personalize his treatment, aligning it closely with his unique health circumstances and quality-of-life goals. How to take care of my prostate health? A common question emerging from Biden's diagnosis is whether his cancer could have been detected sooner or if it impacted him during his presidency. The President of the United States gets excellent medical care, and the truth is that we may never know. Instead of getting stuck on these unanswerable questions, I recommend we refocus on something we can control: our own health. Biden's diagnosis is a powerful reminder of our responsibility and opportunity to proactively manage our health. As a urologist, I experience daily how unpredictable prostate cancer can be. Some patients show clear signs of the disease, while others surprise even me with aggressive or unexpected cases. Cancer doesn't discriminate, and its trajectory can be uncertain. But one factor we can all control is our approach to prevention and early detection. Symptoms to watch for are blood in the urine or semen; needing to urinate more often, including waking up at night to urinate; and trouble getting started when urinating. Signs of more advanced disease can also include accidental leaking, pain in the back and bones, fatigue, weight loss and weakness. Former President Biden's experience should be a call to action for us: Schedule regular health checkups, discuss prostate screening with your health-care provider, pay attention to your body's signals, and prioritize overall health. By shifting the conversation from speculation about someone else's journey to actively engaging in your own, you're investing in the most priceless and valuable asset you have — your health.
