What you failed to mention in your report was that the NHS will not fund the estimated £200 fee for the test. As is usual in the UK the double standard rers it's ugly head, women are constantly being told to go for their various cancer tests, mone never comes into it. Yet where mens health is concerned the NHS doesn't want to know.

W Ward, Liverpool, England

A high PSA score seems to be the beginning of an unending nightmare for many men and in many cases the test apears to be worse than useless. As is the famous DRE which all men of 50 are supposed to have. Apparently if a DRE finds the cancer it's pretty developed and you're in trouble anyway. The finger can only feel the top of the prostate so it's no better than flicking a coin - heads or tails.

A high PSA - above 4 (?) between 4-10 means you are advised to have a biopsy. Yet it is acknowledged that symptoms of BPH are associated with high PSA and men with prostate cancer can often have a low PSA

Onwards to the biopsy. If you have a high PSA and the biopsy doesn't find prostate cancer this doesn't mean you DON'T have prostate cancer - only that the biopsy needles didn't pick up any samples of prostate cancer - a bit like stabbing through an orange with a needle to find mold. The needle could easily miss something if it is small enough.
I hope this new test ends all this guess work

Pete Kline, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

my husband was given 12mths to live 10 years ago with what was diagnosed as fast growing prostate canser with a psa of 159. we are now ten yrs on the prostate cancer was inoperable with only palative care to offer. he had zoladex injections. a t.u.r.p operation which included an orchadectomy operation which went badly wrong and caused him to go to theatre another 6 times. 20 maximum doses of radiotherapy. he is now on an 8wkly dose of zomeda for his bones and casodex 50mg 1 every other day things are looking a bit better but are we ever going to have any remission its been a long time do we have any chance of remission? his brother also had prostate cancer. is it important for my son now 37 to be checked at any stage i would be happy to find out more. many thanks

veronica wilson, birmingham west midlands, united kingdom