Doctors suggested to cease performing embarrassing most cancers take a look at that every one sufferers hate

The association and Prostate Cancer UK have called on the government to update guidelines ahead of any wider change on screening more men with the specific antigen blood test

GPs must be told to axe the dreaded “finger up the bum” test for prostate cancer to save lives, top surgeons warned.

The advice, which hasn’t been updated since 2016 and puts fellas off getting tested, must be changed, The British Association of Urological Surgeons said.

It has argued that scientific advances and better diagnoses using MRI machines mean digital rectal exams, or DREs, should be ditched.

The association and Prostate Cancer UK have called on the government to update its guidelines for medics ahead of any wider change on screening more men with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.

Vishwanath Hanchanale, from Royal Liverpool University Hospital, said: “The DRE doesn’t have any role at all in diagnosis of prostate cancer.”

He added: “There are a lot of cancers on the front of the prostate, which we will never see on a rectal exam.”

Mr Hanchanale said making the guidelines clear that a DRE is not needed would help encourage the 30% of men who don’t come forward for testing to do so.

He said: “This will surely save lives.”

There have been growing calls for a national screening after Olympic cycling icon Sir Chris Hoy, 49, revealed last year he was dying from the disease.

There are around 12,000 prostate cancer deaths in the UK every year which works out to 33 every day.

Prostate Cancer UK said black men and those with a family history of the disease should be offered a PSA test by their GP, with any abnormal results referred for an MRI scan.

Amy Rylance, assistant director of health improvement at the charity, said: “Most men don’t get any symptoms in the early stages, when it’s easier to cure, so men need to understand their risk and ask for a PSA test.”

The UK National Screening Committee is probing evidence on PSA screening and its recommendations are expected in September.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said: “Rates of prostate cancer are incredibly concerning, so it’s vital we are using the most up-to-date, evidence-based methods to diagnose it as early as possible.”

This comes after former United States President Joe Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone.

Posting on Twitter/X, he said: “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”

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