Prostate cancer deaths set to increase following Covid pandemic

Bill Turnbull was a greatly-respected broadcasting giant. Easing us into the day on the BBC Breakfast sofa for 15 years, as well as presenting Classic FM, Songs of Praise and much more. As a younger journalist he reported for the BBC in more than 30 countries, covering the Monica Lewinsky scandal, the OJ Simpson trial and hurricanes in Florida. As well conflicts in eastern Europe, Russia and Romania.

Watching and listening to Bill was the perfect way to wake up and get up to speed with the world. After he went public with news of his prostate cancer in 2018, he was selfless with his time, defying his own diagnosis to undertake interviews, support our campaigns, and inspire so many others affected by the most common cancer in men.

Sadly, for Bill his prostate cancer diagnosis came too late, but we know his work with us has saved many lives. For that we will be forever grateful. Our thoughts are with his wife Sesi and all the family at this time. Today, they shared this statement:

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Finding the missing men with undiagnosed prostate cancer

Bill was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017, after experiencing long-term aches and pains that he'd put down to old age. Because he had a PSA test aged 40 and 50, he said he was cross with himself for not visiting a GP in four years, when it could have been caught earlier.

These numbers - and the Fry-Turnbull effect, where the NHS saw an unprecedented spike in referrals for suspected prostate cancer in 2018 after Stephen Fry and Bill Turnbull made their diagnoses public - show the difference we make when we rally together.

This will be vital, as the scale of changes to diagnosis and care illustrated by this study will lead to significantly worse outcomes for men, for many years to come, if referral rates remain low.

For instance, of those men diagnosed with prostate cancer during the pandemic, fewer than usual were between 45 and 75 years old.

Men diagnosed at a younger age have a good prognosis if caught early, but if diagnosed with advanced cancer tend to have worse outcomes than their older counterparts, making it urgent that these men be found quickly.

After Bill shared his story of diagnosis we saw an unprecedented spike in referrals for suspected prostate cancer in 2018. NHS England called this the ‘Fry-Turnbull effect’, citing the impact of Bill and fellow Prostate Cancer UK supporter Stephen Fry sharing their stories early. This huge surge in referrals saw prostate cancer become the most commonly diagnosed cancer for the first time that year – 10 years earlier than previously predicted.

Bill’s bravery in speaking so candidly about his experience continues to help men across the country understand more about the disease and their risk. His story, and his public support of Prostate Cancer UK has also been key in highlighting the need for a screening programme to help make sure more men have their cancer caught early.

Thank you Bill, for your friendship, your generosity, and everything you’ve done for men across the UK. We’ll miss you.

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