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prostate cancer It is now the most common cancer in the UK, overtaking breast cancer as the most common form of cancer, new analysis shows this disease.
Figures compiled by the charity Prostate Cancer UK show that 64,425 men are living with prostate cancer. diagnosed with prostate cancer By 2022, the number of breast cancer cases will be 61,640, having previously topped the list.
This marks a 24% increase in diagnoses from last year, when 51,823 men were diagnosed with the disease.
While prostate cancer officially became the most common cancer in England last January, newly released figures for Scotland and existing data for Wales and Northern Ireland now provide a comprehensive picture across the UK.
The charity attributes a 42% rise in diagnosis rates over the past 10 years to awareness-raising campaigns by charities, the NHS and celebrities.
In response to these rising figures, Prostate Cancer UK is advocating for the NHS to implement wider screening using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.
The organization is also conducting a major clinical trial, with results expected within two years, to assess whether combining the PSA test with other diagnostic methods, such as rapid MRI scans, can recommend universal screening for all men.
However, a draft recommendation published in December by the UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC), which advises the government, stated that prostate cancer screening should not be routinely offered to the vast majority of British men.
The committee specifically recommended against using the PSA test for population screening, arguing that it “may cause more harm than good.”
Instead, the UKNSC recommends that only men with mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, who are at significantly higher risk of developing prostate cancer, be screened every two years between the ages of 45 and 61.
Health Minister Wes Streeting expressed surprise at the decision and is currently reviewing the findings.
The National Security Council’s advice has drawn criticism from several high-profile figures diagnosed with the disease, including Olympic gold medalist Sir Chris Hoy, former Prime Minister Lord David Cameron, broadcaster Sir Stephen Fry and actor Sir Tony Robinson.
While prostate cancer research supports increased screening, Cancer Research UK agrees with the screening committee’s decision. Prostate Cancer UK expressed disappointment but reiterated its commitment to overturning the decision through further research and evidence.
Chiara De Biase, Director of Health Services, Equity and Improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, commented on the latest figures: “We are extremely proud to play our part in raising awareness of prostate cancer, which is enabling more men than ever before to be diagnosed and treated.
“But it is unacceptable that men still need to take full responsibility for understanding their risks and discussing the pros and cons of PSA testing with their GP.
“Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, but despite this, men across the country face serious unfair inequalities and their experiences vary greatly depending on where they live.
“We urgently need an early detection program to tackle inequalities in these areas. My message to men today is to take 30 seconds to take the Prostate Cancer UK online risk check.
“It’s free, anonymous and with a few simple questions you’ll learn about your risks and rights like the four million people who have already taken it. Knowing your risks could save your life.”
Sir Chris Hoy added: “Prostate cancer is treatable if caught early. This is why we must get the message out to men to consider their risks and talk to their GP about having a simple blood test checked.
“This way we can get more men with prostate cancer diagnosed earlier and we can save thousands of lives. What we need now is action to change the system so more men can get diagnosed earlier and stop them getting the news I got.”
“We need GPs to be able to proactively talk to men who are most at risk, such as men like me who have a family history or who are black, and discuss PSA blood tests to check for signs of cancer at an early stage. Having these potentially life-saving conversations shouldn’t just be the responsibility of men.”
Analysis by Prostate Cancer UK further highlights significant differences, showing that men living in areas with higher levels of deprivation are 29% more likely to be diagnosed with the transmitted disease compared to men living in more affluent areas.
Despite an increase in diagnoses in Scotland, men in Scotland (31%) are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer at an advanced stage than men in England (21%).
The charity believes that “outdated” NHS guidance currently prevents GPs from proactively engaging with men at highest risk of prostate cancer to discuss their risk and offer PSA tests.
The reliability of the PSA test remains a source of debate among experts. Some consider it unreliable because men with high PSA levels may not have cancer, while other men with cancer may show normal PSA results.
They warned that a positive test could lead to unnecessary treatment of slow-growing or harmless tumors and could lead to serious side effects such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
Other experts, by contrast, maintain that current evidence strongly supports more widespread testing.