A new test could be more effective at detecting dangerous prostate cancer than current screening methods, a study suggests.

Researchers in Sweden say a tool, known as Stockholm3, finds 90 per cent of ‘clinically significant’ prostate cancers, compared with 74 per cent uncovered by the standard prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.

The PSA test, which measures levels of a protein produced by the prostate gland, is currently the main method used to assess a man’s risk of prostate cancer. 

While high PSA levels can be a sign of the disease, they can also be caused by other conditions – prompting researchers to look for more accurate ways of identifying men at risk, preventing unnecessary scans and biopsies.

Prostate cancer is the most common form of the disease among men in the UK – affecting around one in eight adults and linked to around 63,000 new cases and 12,000 deaths each year. 

Men looking to protect themselves can request a PSA test from a GP, but the effectiveness of the screening has long been debated by critics because it can produce false-positive results and miss some aggressive tumours.

Now, researchers from the Karoline Institute in Stockholm now believe Stockholm3 could be a potential answer.

The new test combines PSA measurements with genetic markers linked to a heightened prostate cancer risk, as well as additionally relevant proteins in the blood, and factors such as age, family history and previous biopsy results. 

A new test could be more effective at detecting dangerous prostate cancer than current screening methods, a study suggests

It then generates a risk score that estimates a man’s likelihood of having clinically significant prostate cancer – defined in the study as anything above grade two of the disease. 

Grade two cancers, while still likely to grow slowly, are considered potentially harmful and are more likely to need treatment than tumours in grade one.

The study involved 12,670 men aged between 50 and 74 with an average age of 62, who underwent both PSA and Stockholm3 testing. 

Among those screened, 443 were diagnosed with clinically significant prostate cancer.

Researchers found that Stockholm3 bettered the standard PSA test by reducing the number of serious tumours that were missed and by also bringing down the amount of unnecessary biopsies. 

Over a follow-up period of two years, the new test missed just 10 per cent of clinically significant cancers, compared with 26 per cent for PSA screening. The rate of false positives was similar for both tests.

Stockholm3 also correctly identified nine in 10 clinically significant cancers, while this was around three in four for the PSA test. 

Authors wrote: ‘In this screening cohort with short-term follow-up, Stockholm3 provided greater clinical net benefit than PSA for detecting (clinically significant prostate cancer), driven by fewer false-negative results, although follow-up was limited to 2 years.’

They add that the findings suggest the Stockholm3 test could be more accurate than standard PSA testing and reduce the need for unnecessary procedures.

Because levels of PSA can rise for other reasons than prostate cancer, such as an infection and advancing age, critics say the PSA blood test can wrongly reassure someone cancer is not present, and can lead to unnecessary scans and biopsies when levels are raised for reasons other than cancer. 

The researchers acknowledged limitations to their new research , including that only around a quarter of the men invited to participate in the screening study chose to take part. 

However, they believe their findings warrant more scrutiny, adding: ‘Further investigation, including longer-term follow-up of survival and cause-specific mortality, will be needed to evaluate the long-term effect and cost-effectiveness of this screening approach. 

‘If confirmed, integrating Stockholm3 into screening pathways may improve the efficiency and clinical utility of prostate cancer screening programs.’

It comes just weeks after a new study suggested an alternative approach to testing for prostate cancer using MRI scans could be more effective than current screening methods used by the NHS. 

Under the proposed approach, men would be offered an MRI after receiving a positive PSA test, before any biopsy is considered – a step experts say would allow doctors to act on lower PSA levels and detect cancers earlier. 

Rather than screening all men once they reach a certain age, the panel recommended a more personalised approach, based on risk. 

Men at low-risk of the disease would be offered an MRI every four to five years, while those at higher risk – such as black men and those with a genetic predisposition – should be screened more frequently. 

Biopsies, which can be painful and lead to sexual problems, should only be carried out if MRI scans – read by highly trained doctors – flag clearly suspicious results.  

The panel said this stricter, more personalised approach could slash biopsies in half, while detecting roughly the same amount of cancers. 

Earlier this month, government advisors rejected calls for a nationwide prostate cancer screening programme. although it was announced that all black men in the UK would be invited to join a prostate cancer screening trial.

Health secretary James Murray accepted a recommendation from his advisors to restrict access to a new national screening programme to as few as 1,500 people.

But he committed to expanding an ongoing trial into diagnostic tests and scans so all black men aged 45 to 74 who have not had a PSA test or MRI prostate scan in the past five years can take part.

The Daily Mail is among those campaigning to end needless prostate cancer deaths and for a national screening programme, initially targeted at high-risk men, such as those who are black, have a family history of the disease or specific genetic mutations.

Jeremy Clarkson revealed he had been diagnosed with the disease last week, before confirming he is now in remission. 

I have trouble putting weight on to my feet when getting out of bed due to painful heels. The right one in particular stays sore until I get going. Why might this be?

Alan Weir, Waterlooville, Hampshire

Dr Martin Scurr replies: Severe heel pain when putting weight on your feet is a classic sign of plantar fasciitis – or inflammation of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes.

Typically the pain is worse first thing in the morning as the tissue tightens overnight and then stretches when you stand up. This gradually eases over the next few minutes.

Plantar fasciitis is most common from middle-age, simply as a result of tissue ageing, and is typically triggered by unsupportive footwear or a sudden increase in exercise – such as a long walk. Or both.

It’s diagnosed by pressing on a point on the underside of the heel, called the medial calcaneal tubercle, which will cause acute pain if the fascia is inflamed.

If there is any doubt, you may be offered an X-ray – there might be a spur of new bone extending into the fascia from the heel bone, which is a result of inflammation and repair mechanisms. Damage to the Achilles tendon can also cause heel pain, though at the back of the heel rather than under it. Also pain tends to occur throughout the day as the tendon comes under load.

I suggest you see a physiotherapist or a podiatrist who will confirm the diagnosis and show you stretches that can improve flexibility and pain.

Typically foot pain is worse first thing in the morning as the tissue tightens overnight and then stretches when you stand up, says Dr Martin Scurr

An orthotic insole under the heel can help as it takes the strain off the inflamed tissue. You can buy these online or on the High Street, but your healthcare professional can best help you find the type you need.

In some cases, this treatment doesn’t relieve the pain and you may need to be referred to an orthopaedic specialist for a corticosteroid injection – though this is a last resort (not least because it is painful and risks include rupture of the plantar fascia).

On a recent morning flight to Portugal I fainted in my seat for 30 seconds before take-off. I was taken by ambulance to hospital, but all checks were clear. Should I worry about flying? I’m 81.

Alex Jones, Manchester

Dr Martin Scurr replies: A faint – known as a vasovagal episode – is a brief loss of consciousness and can be brought on by anything that causes a drop in blood pressure significant enough to temporarily cut normal blood flow to the brain.

All manner of things could do this – from the early travel, perhaps after a sleepless night (a lack of sleep reduces the body’s ability to regulate blood pressure) or anxiety about missing the flight.

In addition, standing in queues at security or at the gate can allow blood to pool in the legs, reducing flow to the brain.

In your longer letter you mention you ate breakfast before boarding and this may have contributed. Digestion requires extra blood flow to the stomach, so if your heart rate and blood vessels fail to adjust, blood pressure drops throughout your body, depriving the brain of blood which could have made you feel faint.

In older adults this is not uncommon, especially in those with blood pressure problems (you mention you are on ramipril, a drug for high blood pressure). Usually it occurs within an hour of a meal.

Mild dehydration, especially if you deliberately reduced fluid intake prior to travelling to avoid needing the loo during the flight, can also be implicated.

I am trusting that the doctor who examined you in A&E listened to your heart carefully and presumably an electrocardiogram (ECG) was carried out to rule out any abnormalities.

Some heart rhythm disorders, such as atrial fibrillation, can come and go and may not be detected by an emergency ECG or with a stethoscope. I’d ask your GP for a 24-hour ECG (you wear a monitor at home and it sends the results to your doctor).

If all is well in respect of your heart, there is no reason why you should not fly in future – though perhaps seeking assistance to reduce stress and the time spent standing might be a sensible precaution.

In my view… meningitis vaccine roll-out is vital

Infection with meningococcal group B (MenB) bacteria overwhelms the body so quickly that anyone who contracts it can become ill at breakfast time and die by teatime. The bacteria cause the lining of the brain to swell and spread to the blood, swiftly leading to deadly sepsis.

Time is so much of the essence that GPs always carry injectable antibiotics to be given the moment it is believed that a patient has the infection – before even calling for an ambulance.

It is a matter of pride that in 2015 we were the first country in the world to offer a vaccine, Bexsero, which protects against all strains of MenB. Before this, children received the ACWY vaccine – which protects against other meningococcal bacteria strains.

But recent outbreaks of MenB (which led to the death of sixth‑form student Lewis Walters last month) have caused great public anxiety. That’s why I welcome the news of a catch-up programme, to offer teenagers too old to have had the Bexsero vaccine, from July.

This will ensure all those at highest risk of this lethal disease can be protected. For to lose teenagers from MenB when it is preventable is both shocking and little short of unethical.

By LUKE ANDREWS, U.S. SENIOR HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

Published: 20:51 BST, 15 June 2026 | Updated: 20:52 BST, 15 June 2026

[noscript_1]

Hundreds of thousands of bottles of a hugely popular antidepressant have been recalled over fears that they could contain a cancer-causing chemical.

More than 370,000 bottles of duloxetine delayed-release capsules, sold by New Jersey-based Breckenridge Pharmaceuticals and commonly known as Cymbalta, were subject to the warning.

The FDA raised the alarm after tests found the capsules contained higher than permitted levels of N-nitroso-duloxetine, which is considered to be a probable carcinogen to humans.

No illnesses have been reported to date, but the agency warned this was a Class II recall, meaning exposure to the product could cause temporary or medically reversible events.

The recall includes 360,000 bottles of 60 milligram (mg) capsules, sold in bottles containing 90 or 1,000 capsules.

It also includes 14,000 bottles of 30mg capsules, sold in bottles containing 1,000 capsules. 

The prescription-only drugs were sold nationwide and have best-before dates up to May next year.

No advice has been issued by officials on what to do if you have the recalled drugs at home, but, typically, people are advised to contact their doctors to seek alternatives.

More than 370,000 bottles of duloxetine delayed-release capsules have been recalled

Physicians warn online that abruptly stopping the drug can lead to depression, fatigue, headaches and insomnia, or difficulty falling asleep.

Duloxetine, also sold as Irenka, is one of the most popular antidepressants in the US and has about 18 million prescriptions written every year.

Doctors use it to treat depression, anxiety or pain caused by nerve damage associated with diabetes. It may also be prescribed to treat fibromyalgia.

The recall was revealed as two notices on the FDA’s website. No press release has been issued as yet.

The drug was manufactured by Towa Pharmaceuticals Europe, based in Spain, and distributed in the US by Breckenridge Pharmaceuticals. 

N-nitroso-duloxetine is a byproduct that can accidentally form during the manufacturing process.

A list of the lot numbers in the recall is available in the first notice and second notice issued on the FDA website. 

People are exposed to trace levels of this chemical from the environment daily, but the FDA has safe limits for it in medications, at 26.5 nanograms per day.

Shown above are the 90-capsule and 1,000-capsule bottles from Breckenridge that have been recalled

Shown above is the 1,000-capsule 30mg duloxetine that has been recalled 

Experts say that prolonged exposure to higher levels of this chemical may raise the risk of developing cancer. 

Previous research in animals has linked nitrosamines, the group of chemicals that includes N-nitroso-duloxetine, to cancer in the colon and liver. 

The alert is at least the second recall of Breckenridge Pharmaceuticals-distributed antidepressants this year. 

In April, 165,000 bottles of its 60mg duloxetine delayed-release capsules were recalled over the presence of the same potentially cancer-causing chemical. These were all in 90-count bottles.

In 2024, Breckenridge recalled 7,100 bottles of its 20mg duloxetine delayed-release capsules that were sold in 500-count bottles.

By LUKE ANDREWS, U.S. SENIOR HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

Published: 20:51 BST, 15 June 2026 | Updated: 20:52 BST, 15 June 2026

[noscript_1]

Hundreds of thousands of bottles of a hugely popular antidepressant have been recalled over fears that they could contain a cancer-causing chemical.

More than 370,000 bottles of duloxetine delayed-release capsules, sold by New Jersey-based Breckenridge Pharmaceuticals and commonly known as Cymbalta, were subject to the warning.

The FDA raised the alarm after tests found the capsules contained higher than permitted levels of N-nitroso-duloxetine, which is considered to be a probable carcinogen to humans.

No illnesses have been reported to date, but the agency warned this was a Class II recall, meaning exposure to the product could cause temporary or medically reversible events.

The recall includes 360,000 bottles of 60 milligram (mg) capsules, sold in bottles containing 90 or 1,000 capsules.

It also includes 14,000 bottles of 30mg capsules, sold in bottles containing 1,000 capsules. 

The prescription-only drugs were sold nationwide and have best-before dates up to May next year.

No advice has been issued by officials on what to do if you have the recalled drugs at home, but, typically, people are advised to contact their doctors to seek alternatives.

More than 370,000 bottles of duloxetine delayed-release capsules have been recalled

Physicians warn online that abruptly stopping the drug can lead to depression, fatigue, headaches and insomnia, or difficulty falling asleep.

Duloxetine, also sold as Irenka, is one of the most popular antidepressants in the US and has about 18 million prescriptions written every year.

Doctors use it to treat depression, anxiety or pain caused by nerve damage associated with diabetes. It may also be prescribed to treat fibromyalgia.

The recall was revealed as two notices on the FDA’s website. No press release has been issued as yet.

The drug was manufactured by Towa Pharmaceuticals Europe, based in Spain, and distributed in the US by Breckenridge Pharmaceuticals. 

N-nitroso-duloxetine is a byproduct that can accidentally form during the manufacturing process.

A list of the lot numbers in the recall is available in the first notice and second notice issued on the FDA website. 

People are exposed to trace levels of this chemical from the environment daily, but the FDA has safe limits for it in medications, at 26.5 nanograms per day.

Shown above are the 90-capsule and 1,000-capsule bottles from Breckenridge that have been recalled

Shown above is the 1,000-capsule 30mg duloxetine that has been recalled 

Experts say that prolonged exposure to higher levels of this chemical may raise the risk of developing cancer. 

Previous research in animals has linked nitrosamines, the group of chemicals that includes N-nitroso-duloxetine, to cancer in the colon and liver. 

The alert is at least the second recall of Breckenridge Pharmaceuticals-distributed antidepressants this year. 

In April, 165,000 bottles of its 60mg duloxetine delayed-release capsules were recalled over the presence of the same potentially cancer-causing chemical. These were all in 90-count bottles.

In 2024, Breckenridge recalled 7,100 bottles of its 20mg duloxetine delayed-release capsules that were sold in 500-count bottles.