Prostate cancer affects 35,000 men, killing 10,000 each year in the UK.

Until now, the only way to test for the disease is through blood testing that measures levels of prostate-specific antigen; however this test is only 50% accurate.

Experts at Oxford Gene Technology have now found specific proteins that are an indicator of prostate cancer and is said to be 90% accurate. The proteins can be seen some years before the development of cancer and therefore will increase a patient's chances of survival and prevention of the cancer.

We could see a nationwide screening process, much like cervical smears, within the next few months or years dependent on the results of large tests.