The number of men being diagnosed with prostate cancer has overtaken cases of breast cancer in England, according to analysis by Prostate Cancer UK, as ex-PM David Cameron reveals his diagnosis
Prostate cancer has overtaken breast cancer to become England’s most commonly diagnosed cancer, as increasing numbers of men are coming forward for checks.
David Cameron revealed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, after his wife Samantha urged him to get checked. Lord Cameron, 59, said a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test revealed his diagnosis.
He said: “You always hope for the best. You have an MRI scan with a few black marks on it. You think, ‘Ah, that’s probably OK.’ But when the biopsy comes back, and it says you have got prostate cancer?
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“You always dread hearing those words. And then literally as they’re coming out of the doctor’s mouth you’re thinking, ‘Oh, no, he’s going to say it. He’s going to say it. Oh God, he said it’,” he told The Times.
Analysis by Prostate Cancer UK reveals diagnoses of the disease surpassed breast cancer in both 2022 and 2023. The figures show a 25% rise in prostate cancer cases between 2019 and 2023, which the charity attributes to greater awareness of the condition, resulting in more men receiving an early diagnosis.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s Clinical Director for Cancer, said: “Thanks to the hard work of NHS staff and our effective awareness campaigns, we are diagnosing more men with prostate cancer at an earlier stage than ever before, so they have the best possible chance of receiving effective treatment. We know that coming forward for prostate checks can be daunting, but it could save your life, so we would encourage men to consult the prostate cancer symptoms advice available on NHS.uk, and to see their GP as soon as possible if they are concerned.”
Prostate Cancer UK discovered 50,751 men received a prostate cancer diagnosis in England during 2022, compared with 48,531 breast cancer diagnoses. The numbers climbed further in 2023, with 55,033 individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer against 47,526 breast cancer cases.
According to the NHS, prostate cancer typically doesn’t produce symptoms until the growth becomes large enough to press against the urethra – the tube carrying urine from the bladder through the penis. The NHS website explains that these symptoms don’t necessarily indicate prostate cancer.
Many men experience prostate enlargement as they age due to a non-cancerous condition called benign prostate enlargement. Warning signs that the cancer may have spread include bone and back pain, loss of appetite, testicular pain and unexplained weight loss.
Chiara De Biase, director at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “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. 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 – so that he has the best chance of getting that all-important earlier diagnosis. Because the earlier you find prostate cancer, the easier it is to treat.”
Prostate cancer predominantly affects men over 50, with black men facing the highest risk. Diagnosis involves physical examinations, scans and blood tests measuring prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels.
NHS England guidelines state that anyone over 50 can request a PSA test, whilst GPs use clinical judgement for younger men without symptoms who may be at increased risk. Men experiencing symptoms can request testing regardless of age.
Ms De Biase explained: “These new figures show that awareness is now growing across the UK, and we’re proud to have played our part in this alongside our supporters and the NHS. More men than ever are learning about their risk, speaking to their GP about the PSA blood test, and then taking the best next steps.”
She continued: “At the moment, there’s no screening programme for prostate cancer, and not every man has a fair shot at getting diagnosed earlier. We face a dreadful North-South divide in the UK, where you’re more likely to get an incurable diagnosis in certain areas than others. Plus, men living in more deprived areas are less likely to get the treatments they need. 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 – something we’re asking the Government to change right now.”
Prostate Cancer UK is calling on people to back its campaign to “overhaul outdated NHS guidelines”. In a letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, dated January 9, the charity stated: “Too many black men are dying from a curable disease, and you have the power to make changes that could save hundreds of lives every year. We’re calling on the Government to overhaul outdated NHS guidelines so that doctors can start conversations with black men about their risk from 45-years-old, and talk about the option of a quick and easy blood test to check for possible signs of prostate cancer.”
Prostate cancer symptoms
- Finding it difficult to start peeing or straining to pee Having a weak flow of urine
- ‘Stop-start’ peeing
- Needing to pee urgently or often, or both
- Feeling like you still need to pee when you’ve just finished
- Peeing during the night
- Erectile dysfunction (being unable to get or keep an erection)
- Finding blood in your urine or blood in your semen
- Lower back pain
- Losing weight without trying to
