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Prostate Cancer Now Britain's Most Common Cancer
20 Jan
Summary
- Prostate cancer diagnosed in 64,425 men in 2022, surpassing breast cancer.
- Sir Chris Hoy urges proactive PSA testing for high-risk groups.
- UK National Screening Committee rejected wider PSA screening due to reliability concerns.
Prostate cancer has now surpassed breast cancer as the most common cancer in Britain, with 64,425 cases diagnosed in 2022. This rise is attributed to increased awareness campaigns and high-profile figures encouraging men to get checked. Olympic gold medalist Sir Chris Hoy, who has a terminal diagnosis, is advocating for Black men and those with a family history to be proactively offered the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test by their GPs.
The UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) recently decided against recommending wider population screening using the PSA test, citing concerns that it is not always reliable and could lead to over-treatment of benign tumors. This decision has been met with surprise by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who is reviewing the findings. Prostate Cancer UK is currently running a clinical trial combining PSA tests with MRI scans to assess the potential for broader screening recommendations.
Prostate Cancer UK highlights that outdated NHS guidelines prevent GPs from proactively discussing the risks and benefits of PSA testing with high-risk individuals. Sir Chris emphasizes the importance of early detection, stating that prostate cancer is curable if found early, and calls for systemic changes to ensure more men receive timely diagnoses and avoid the news he received.
