Dr. Suzanne O'Sullivan

So now that we're finding them, we're kind of acting on the assumption that all of them will progress because we simply don't have the knowledge base yet to know what factors make cancer cells grow in some people, but they don't grow in other people. How do you tell a serious cell that will progress from one that doesn't? So these cells have always been there.

So now that we're finding them, we're kind of acting on the assumption that all of them will progress because we simply don't have the knowledge base yet to know what factors make cancer cells grow in some people, but they don't grow in other people. How do you tell a serious cell that will progress from one that doesn't? So these cells have always been there.

And the difference now is we have the technology and the ability to see them.

And the difference now is we have the technology and the ability to see them.

And the difference now is we have the technology and the ability to see them.

Precisely. And, you know, a lot of countries don't do prostate screening because of the problems of overdiagnosis of prostate cancer. So some estimates would be that if you screen a thousand men for prostate cancer, you won't save any lives, but you will over-treat 10 to 20 men for prostate cancer who didn't need treatment because these abnormal cells in the prostate are so common.

Precisely. And, you know, a lot of countries don't do prostate screening because of the problems of overdiagnosis of prostate cancer. So some estimates would be that if you screen a thousand men for prostate cancer, you won't save any lives, but you will over-treat 10 to 20 men for prostate cancer who didn't need treatment because these abnormal cells in the prostate are so common.

Precisely. And, you know, a lot of countries don't do prostate screening because of the problems of overdiagnosis of prostate cancer. So some estimates would be that if you screen a thousand men for prostate cancer, you won't save any lives, but you will over-treat 10 to 20 men for prostate cancer who didn't need treatment because these abnormal cells in the prostate are so common.

The difficulty is that if a man presents for screening of his prostate and abnormal cells are found, how is he to react to that? Because it's very frightening to learn that you have abnormal cells. And there are watchful waiting programmes that suggest we don't have to overreact when this sort of thing is found.

The difficulty is that if a man presents for screening of his prostate and abnormal cells are found, how is he to react to that? Because it's very frightening to learn that you have abnormal cells. And there are watchful waiting programmes that suggest we don't have to overreact when this sort of thing is found.

The difficulty is that if a man presents for screening of his prostate and abnormal cells are found, how is he to react to that? Because it's very frightening to learn that you have abnormal cells. And there are watchful waiting programmes that suggest we don't have to overreact when this sort of thing is found.

But that can be very hard to do on an individual level if you don't know ahead of time that these things exist.

But that can be very hard to do on an individual level if you don't know ahead of time that these things exist.

But that can be very hard to do on an individual level if you don't know ahead of time that these things exist.

So a lot of focus at the moment with regard to something like heart disease is on identifying the risk factors that might put you at higher risk of heart disease going down the line. So, for example, something like diabetes or something like hypertension. So over the years, you know, there's no point at which a blood sugar suddenly turns into diabetes. There's no right point.

So a lot of focus at the moment with regard to something like heart disease is on identifying the risk factors that might put you at higher risk of heart disease going down the line. So, for example, something like diabetes or something like hypertension. So over the years, you know, there's no point at which a blood sugar suddenly turns into diabetes. There's no right point.

So a lot of focus at the moment with regard to something like heart disease is on identifying the risk factors that might put you at higher risk of heart disease going down the line. So, for example, something like diabetes or something like hypertension. So over the years, you know, there's no point at which a blood sugar suddenly turns into diabetes. There's no right point.

At some point, too much glucose on your blood means you're diabetic, but no one can say what that exact point is. And similarly, you know, what is normal blood pressure? You know, is it 140 over 80? Is it 130 over 80? Nobody knows. So what has been happening over the years in order to reduce the risk of something like heart disease or strokes down the line?

At some point, too much glucose on your blood means you're diabetic, but no one can say what that exact point is. And similarly, you know, what is normal blood pressure? You know, is it 140 over 80? Is it 130 over 80? Nobody knows. So what has been happening over the years in order to reduce the risk of something like heart disease or strokes down the line?

At some point, too much glucose on your blood means you're diabetic, but no one can say what that exact point is. And similarly, you know, what is normal blood pressure? You know, is it 140 over 80? Is it 130 over 80? Nobody knows. So what has been happening over the years in order to reduce the risk of something like heart disease or strokes down the line?