Prostate cancer strikes one out of every six men in the United States today. The good news is that if detected early it is very treatable. Cancer researchers announced a urine test that shows promise in being able to detect cancer in it's earliest stages. Researchers theorized that prostate cancers may shed cells into the urine that could then be detected by using DNA analysis. The testing detected the cancerous cells in 6 of 22 samples from patients with early (treatable) prostate cancer. They also had no false positive results. This news is encouraging, as the PSA blood test that is now widely used, has been known to provide false-positive results under certain circumstances. Urine samples are much easier and less painful to obtain. False positive results from the blood test can lead to biopsy of the prostate - an invasive procedure at much greater cost.

British scientists announced another new weapon in the fight against prostate cancer this past week. They have successfully used 3D Radiotherapy to stop the growth of prostate cancers. It works by bending the radiation beam around the tumor and avoids damaging healthy tissue. Although initially tested on prostate cancer it has promising implications for treatment of other cancers.

Early detection still remains the best weapon in the fight against prostate cancer. A yearly checkup and exam is recommended for all men over the age of 45.

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