A HALF-HOUR scan could nearly halve bladder cancer deaths, a study suggests.
Giving patients an MRI scan before the usual biopsy helps doctors start treatment faster, boosting survival chances.
An MRI scan can be done at any major hospital in England (stock image)Credit: Getty – Contributor
It allows them to diagnose the tumour more precisely before starting an operation.
Surgeons would usually wait until the biopsy is already under way to work out how much of the to remove.
In an trial involving 143 people with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, scanning patients before surgery cut the two-year death rate from 18 per cent to 10 per cent.
Study leader Professor Nick James, from The Institute of Cancer Research, said: “This research shows we can cut deaths due to
“We estimate that this new diagnostic pathway will save money, save surgical theatre space and hospital bed days, and prevent patients from undergoing unnecessary procedures.
“I hope that it will be put into practice immediately.”
Reduces risk of embarrassing side effects
About 3,000 people are diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder cancer each year in the UK.
It accounts for nearly a third of all 10,000 new bladder cancer cases.
Previous results from the same study showed that the from 98 days to 53 days.
The scanners are used in every major hospital in the country and would be easy to add to patient care.
The tactic also reduced the number of people going through treatment they did not need.
This slashes the risk of side effects, which can include or incontinence.
Trial co-leader Prof Richard Bryan, from the University of Birmingham, added: “The bladder cancer diagnostic pathway has remained essentially unchanged for more than 30 years.
“Our results show that new approaches could have a significant impact for patients.”
The signs of bladder cancer you should know
There are around 10,500 new bladder cancer cases in the UK every year, according to Cancer Research.
That’s 29 every day, making it the 11th most common form of cancer in the UK.
Smoking is the single biggest risk factor for bladder cancer, causing 45 per cent of cases in the UK.
But exposure to other chemicals, including industrial, is also known to be a cause. Sometimes the cause of bladder cancer is not known.
Around six in 10 cases are in people aged 75 or over, with a steep rise in risk from age 50.
The signs of bladder cancer
- Blood in urine: This is the most common sign. It might not be obvious and may come and go. It might look like streaks of blood, or brown urine.
- A need to urinate more
- A burning sensation when passing urine
- Pelvic pain
- Bone pain
- Unintentional weight loss
- Swelling of the legs
