There is no one
gene for prostate
cancer. But we now
know information
from more than 150
genetic variations
can provide a readout of your risk.
All it takes is someone who is able
to read them. “By looking at the
DNA code of tens of thousands of
men in greater depth, we’ve found
GAME CHANGER #4
THE
GENETICIST
Professor Rosalind Eeles,
consultant in oncogeneticsvital information about genetic
factors,” says Eeles, who leads this
field at the Institute of Cancer
Research. For example, 1% of men
are now thought to have a genetic
risk of one in two, compared to
the average of one in eight.
Eeles and her team have devised
a test designed to predict which
men fall in this high-odds category.
“From there, we could then detect,
or even prevent, the disease.” That’s
prevent, not simply cure: “We have
begun a small study in GP practices
to see whether a simple spit test
can select high-risk men who could
benefit from interventions.”07
It’s all too easy for
medical innovations
to seem abstract
or academic. But
speak to the men
who have benefited
and you get a clear picture of just
how exciting new research can be.
Webber was diagnosed with
advanced prostate cancer on
6 November 2014. He was a sporty
49-year-old with three children.
The urologist told him he would
not live for more than two years,
three if he was lucky. His father
had been diagnosed with prostate
cancer, too, but Webber was
unaware of the huge impact that
this had on his own risk.
“I probably had prostate cancer
for three years before I had a test,but I didn’t have any symptoms,” he
says. “If someone had told me I had
a higher chance just because my
dad had prostate cancer, I would
have gone to the doctor sooner.”
Webber was put on early
chemotherapy, followed by
radiotherapy. This was far from
the usual protocol for men with
cancer as advanced as his
(radiotherapy is generally only
used when cancer is curable),
but ongoing trials at the Royal
Marsden had suggested that
this approach could significantly
extend men’s lives. Although
Webber did not know it at the
time, these trials would prove to
be a success and revolutionise
the way advanced prostate cancer
such as his could be managed.
Two years after his initial
diagnosis, Webber ran the Marathon
des Sables, a six-day, 156-mile foot
race across the Sahara. The week
after he spoke with MH, he ran it for
the fourth time in as many years.MEN’S HEALTH 75
the number of women dying from breast
cancer has been declining. During that
time, research into the disease has
benefited from more than double the
number of published studies compared
to those carried out for prostate cancer.
“With breast cancer, there’s more
knowledge, more understanding,” says
Dr van As. One area of contention is
screening programmes. While guidelines
for breast cancer screening are relatively
uncontroversial, screening for prostate
cancer tends to ignite debate. A very
low-risk prostate issue, for example,
might officially qualify as “cancer”, but if
it isn’t invasive and doesn’t hinder your
lifestyle, then treating it could make little
sense. For those who aren’t in danger and
require no intervention, it might not be
worth their knowing about it at all.
Of course, it’s not always an indolent
disease. “It still causes 12,000 deaths
each year,” cautions Dr van As. “There
is definitely data to show that screening
works, although it comes at a cost,
opening up a significant number of
patients to over-treatment. But for those
whose cancers are caught early? The
prospects are increasingly bright.”
On 16 June, Father and Son Day will
be encouraging people to share pictures
of their fathers, sons or mentors
on Instagram with the hashtag
#InspiringMen, while donating to
the Royal Marsden. Text MARSDEN
to 70800 to donate £5. Tag your friends
and inspire them to do the sameGAME CHANGER # 5
THE
TRAILBLAZER
Kevin Webber, prostate
cancer patient