Men who are suspected of having prostate cancer will be able to get a diagnosis within a day as part of an NHS trial.
The new programme, which has been hailed as a “game-changer”, will use AI to interpret MRI scans within seconds. People who are at high risk of cancer will be directed to a specialist for a fast review, followed by a biopsy.
These results will be checked the same day, with cancer-free patients to be given an all-clear the same day, and positive diagnoses to be given as soon as the next day, The Telegraph reported. Currently, those waiting for results from their screenings can face up to a month for answers, after being referred for a biopsy.
• Men who need prostate tests the most ‘aren’t getting them’
The AI technology will also be tested on thousands of scans at hospitals across England. If the pilot is successful, the technology will be deployed nationally.
The NHS national clinical director for cancer, Professor Peter Johnson, said: “We’re really excited by the potential of artificial intelligence to speed up cancer diagnosis, and we hope this trial of AI-powered ‘one-day diagnostics’ could be a game-changer and help save men weeks of worry and uncertainty.
“As with all cancers, speed is crucial — the quicker the diagnosis, the sooner treatment can begin and help give the best chance of treatment being successful for patients and their families.”
The disease is one of the deadliest in the UK, with 12,000 fatalities annually, and is the most common cancer in men. Symptoms include frequent urinating, blood in urine and erectile dysfunction.
Early detection is crucial, with the ten-year survival rate at just 18.6 per cent for those found to have stage four prostate cancer. This jumps dramatically to 90 per cent if the cancer is picked up in stages one and two.
Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said: “Prostate cancer is a devastating disease impacting thousands of men every year. What makes this already incredibly challenging situation worse for these men are long waits for test results, diagnosis and treatment — it’s needlessly distressing for them and their families.
“By harnessing the power of technology we are revolutionising our NHS and tackling this, with AI able to deliver same-day prostate diagnoses — delivering better outcomes for patients and fast support for doctors.”
Amy Rylance, the assistant director of health improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Men desperately need quicker and fairer access to an accurate diagnosis and the right treatments. This new trial is exciting because it opens the door to just that.”