Prostate cancer has become the most common cancer in England. Figures from the NHS show that in 2023 prostate cancer was over 15% more prevalent than breast cancer, with cases increasing by a quarter since 2019. Efforts by cancer charity Prostate Cancer UK and the NHS have increased awareness of the risk factors of the cancer and have developed an online risk checker, urging more men to discover their risk and seek treatment if required.
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‘Unlike other cancers, prostate cancer won’t give you symptoms in its crucial early stages when it’s easier to treat, so as a charity we can’t tell you about tell-tale signs to look out for,’ said Chiara De Biase, Director of Health Services, Equity and Improvement at Prostate Cancer UK. ‘That’s why we do everything we can to make every man aware of his risk of getting the disease and empower him to think about his testing options.’
Multiple efforts have been made to raise awareness and increase diagnoses, but there is still no screening programme in place. The pandemic left an estimated 14,000 men undiagnosed and thus not treated for prostate cancer. However, while a greater number of men are receiving life-saving treatment, there is still no national screening programme in place to identify those most at risk. Prostate Cancer UK believes this actively hinders patient outcomes, as earlier diagnosis for prostate cancer is crucial for survival.
‘At the moment, there’s no screening programme for prostate cancer, and not every man has a fair shot at getting diagnosed earlier,’ said De Biase. ‘Despite all this, GPs aren’t currently allowed to raise the issue of prostate cancer and testing, even with the men who have the highest risk of getting it.’