Cheap blood pressure drugs taken by thousands of people could increase survival chances for men with prostate cancer
- Study found prostate patients taking drug reduced risk of dying within 7.6 years
- Other types of blood pressure drugs were found to increase the risk of death
- Eighty per cent of men with prostate cancer are on blood pressure medication
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Cheap blood pressure drugs taken by thousands of people could increase survival chances for men with prostate cancer.
Study of 8,300 men found prostate patients who happened to also be taking a particular class of blood pressure drug called angiotensin II receptor blockers (includes common pills such as valsartan and losartan) reduce the risk of dying within 7.6 years by 42 per cent.
Crucially, the researchers found other types of blood pressure drugs actually increase the risk of death.
Cheap blood pressure drugs taken by thousands of people could increase survival chances for men with prostate cancer
They say the findings are really important because 80 per cent of men with prostate cancer are also on blood pressure medication – so it’s crucial doctors give them a type that will extend their life rather than shorten it.
This is because they work in different ways – and some seem to slow down tumour growth.
Research by Universtiy of Tampere in Finland, was presented at the European Association of Urology Conference in Barcelona.
Study of 8,300 men found prostate patients who happened to also be taking a particular class of blood pressure drug called angiotensin II receptor blockers (includes common pills such as valsartan and losartan) reduce the risk of dying within 7.6 years by 42 per cent
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WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER?
How many people does it kill?
Prostate cancer became a bigger killer than breast cancer for the first time, official statistics revealed earlier this year.
More than 11,800 men a year – or one every 45 minutes – are now killed by the disease in Britain, compared with about 11,400 women dying of breast cancer.
It means prostate cancer is behind only lung and bowel in terms of how many people it kills in Britain. In the US, the disease kills 26,000 each year.
Despite this, it receives less than half the research funding of breast cancer – while treatments for the disease are trailing at least a decade behind.
How quickly does it develop?
Prostate cancer usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs someone has it for many years, according to the NHS.
If the cancer is at an early stage and not causing symptoms, a policy of ‘watchful waiting’ or ‘active surveillance’ may be adopted.
Some patients can be cured if the disease is treated in the early stages.
But if it diagnosed at a later stage, when it has spread, then it becomes terminal and treatment revolves around relieving symptoms.
Thousands of men are put off seeking a diagnosis because of the known side effects from treatment, including erectile dysfunction.
Tests and treatment
Tests for prostate cancer are haphazard, with accurate tools only just beginning to emerge.
There is no national prostate screening programme as for years the tests have been too inaccurate.
Doctors struggle to distinguish between aggressive and less serious tumours, making it hard to decide on treatment.
Men over 50 are eligible for a ‘PSA’ blood test which gives doctors a rough idea of whether a patient is at risk.
But it is unreliable. Patients who get a positive result are usually given a biopsy which is also not foolproof.
Scientists are unsure as to what causes prostate cancer, but age, obesity and a lack of exercise are known risks.
Anyone with any concerns can speak to Prostate Cancer UK’s specialist nurses on 0800 074 8383 or visit prostatecanceruk.org
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