Wes Streeting has signalled his support for a national prostate cancer screening programme in a major boost to the Mail’s ‘really important’ campaign.
The health secretary said he is ‘particularly sympathetic’ to the arguments being made for the need to proactively offer tests to men at highest risk of the disease.
This includes those who are black or have a family history of prostate cancer.
His remarks come days after a landmark poll showed 94 per cent of GPs back the Mail’s campaign to introduce a national prostate cancer screening programme, initially targeted at at high-risk men.
Analysis by Prostate Cancer Research suggests such a scheme would lead to an extra 775 cases being diagnosed early each year among men aged 45 to 69.
Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed form of cancer in England, with 55,033 cases identified in 2023, the latest figures show.
Catching prostate cancer early improves the chances of successfully treating the disease, which kills around 10,200 men in England each year.
The UK National Screening Committee, which advises the government on which screening programmes to offer, is currently considering recent developments around prostate cancer diagnosis and is due to report its findings later this year.
Wes Streeting has signalled his support for a national prostate cancer screening programme in a major boost to the Mail’s ‘really important’ campaign
Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed form of cancer in England, with 55,033 cases identified in 2023, the latest figures show
There is currently a screening programme for breast, bowel and cervical cancer – but not for prostate.
Formula One boss Eddie Jordan, Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman and BBC News presenter Bill Turnbull are among those who have died from prostate cancer in recent years.
Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, comedian Sir Stephen Fry and chef Ken Hom have spoken about their diagnosis to raise awareness of the disease.
Mr Streeting told BBC Breakfast this morning: ‘The National Screening Committee is looking at this as we speak.
‘I am, as you know, sympathetic to the arguments being made by Chris Hoy and I’m particularly sympathetic to the arguments that are being made about the need for screening for those men who are more susceptible to the risk of of this type of cancer.
‘So as soon as I’m able to report back, I promise I will come on and report back to you and your viewers, hopefully with good news.’
LBC radio presenter Nick Ferrari today told Mr Streeting he has been given the all-clear after having a test two weeks ago and asked his opinion of the Mail’s campaign.
He replied: ‘This is a really important campaign on a couple of fronts.
LBC radio presenter Nick Ferrari today told Mr Streeting he has been given the all-clear after having a test two weeks ago
Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy (pictured), comedian Sir Stephen Fry and chef Ken Hom have spoken about their diagnosis to raise awareness of the disease
‘Firstly, awareness is really important, and making sure that people do go and get checked is important – if there are any worrying signs or symptoms, that people go and get checked and don’t feel awkward about talking about it, which is why what you’ve just said, Nick, is really important.
‘There shouldn’t be a taboo around this any more than there should be a taboo around issues like breast cancer or anything else, frankly.
‘And secondly, there is a big campaign running at the moment for better cancer screening, and the National Screening Committee is looking very carefully at this at the moment.’
Thousands of men with prostate cancer are being left at increased risk of death because of a scandalous postcode lottery, the Mail revealed yesterday.
To maximise survival chances, the NHS should diagnose the disease and start patients’ treatment within 62 days of them being referred by a doctor.
But hospitals in England met this target in only two-thirds of cases (67 per cent) in January, the latest month for which figures are available.
While some NHS trusts diagnosed and treated every prostate cancer patient on time over that period, others failed to meet the target on a single occasion.
This means 1,559 men started their first treatment late in one month alone, heightening their anxiety and potentially giving their tumour time to spread.
Particularly concerning, is the 435 who waited more than 104 days (almost four months) – the threshold that is supposed to trigger a clinical review.
Prostate cancer charities described the variation in care as ‘unacceptable’ and warned it is ‘deeply concerning’ that men are having to wait so long.
