Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in Sweden with approximately 2,400 deaths each year and Värmland has previously had among the highest death rates in Sweden.
The study has tried to more easily find the men who have a serious prostate cancer through better prostate diagnostics and with less resource consumption, according to Mauritz Waldén, urologist.
Combination of two tests
The results of the study show, among other things, that the fastest way to the goal is to take the so-called Stockholm3 test.
- It works as a question battery for the patient.
Among other things, blood samples are taken to measure several different proteins, but genetic markers and hereditary predisposition are also tested.
Stockholm3 is taken after taking a PSA test, a common test that allows early detection of asymptomatic prostate cancer but which only measures a protein in the blood.
- After these two tests, you can then distinguish which men then need to go on to tissue sampling, says Mauritz Waldén.
Improve in the long run
According to the study, Stockholm3 can identify as many significant prostate cancers as the national care program, but at the same time reduces the number of men who need to undergo tissue sampling.
- This can help to improve prostate cancer diagnostics to eventually pave the way for general screening of prostate cancer, which has not been introduced today, says Mauritz Waldén.