MEN could be checked for prostate cancer with a simple saliva test after a trial found it works better than blood testing.
It could save them unnecessary GP visits and embarrassing physical exams.
Scientists at the Institute for Cancer Research in London said the DIY spit test would catch more aggressive tumours and lead to fewer false alarms than the current NHS system.
Men simply spit into a tube at home and send the sample off for lab analysis.
Their DNA is checked for high risk genes or damage that could indicate prostate cancer, which is the most common type in men, with 52,000 cases per year.
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Patients with the most concerning results are sent for further scans and exams, while those with low-risk scores can be discharged.
Study author Professor Ros Eeles, from the ICR and Royal Marsden Hospital, said: “This test could turn the tide on prostate cancer.
“We have shown that a simple, cheap spit test to identify men at higher risk due to their genetic makeup is an effective tool to catch the cancer early.
“We can identify men at risk of aggressive cancers who need further tests, and spare the men who are at lower risk from unnecessary treatments.
“Our next step will be to test the genetic markers on diverse populations to ensure this test can benefit all men.”
The study, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference, trialled the test on 6,142 men at GP surgeries in the UK.
It found 187 cases of prostate cancer and said many would not have been detected by blood tests or MRI scans alone.
There is currently no routine screening for prostate cancer because prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood testing gives too many false positive results.
The new study will be part of a multi-million pound government trial to work out the best way to screen the public for the disease.
This test could turn the tide on prostate cancer
How to de-clutter if you have a beauty stash to last you a lifetime Professor Ros Eeles, from the ICR and Royal Marsden Hospital
Blokes are at higher risk of prostate cancer if they are over 50 years old, overweight or black.
It develops in the prostate gland, between the bladder and bowel, and causes problems with going to the toilet and having sex.
Survival rates are high, with 80 per cent surviving 10 years or more after their diagnosis, but treatment can have nasty side effects if tumours are not caught early.
Simon Grieveson, from Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Too many men in the UK are being diagnosed with advanced, incurable prostate cancer.
"An effective, cost-efficient way to screen men would make a huge impact, giving thousands of men a year the chance of an earlier diagnosis and a longer, healthier life."