The Prostate Cancer Charity comments on new statistics released
today by Cancer Research UK which show that the number of men being
diagnosed with prostate cancer has now reached more than 40,000 a
year.
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity said:
"These statistics clearly show a rise in cases of prostate cancer
over the last ten years. We assume that it is because more PSA
tests are taking place and awareness of this disease is rising but
we cannot be sure. The PSA test is only part of the pathway for
diagnosing prostate cancer and we have no evidence as to whether
more men are asking for the test, more doctors are suggesting it or
otherwise.
"In the meantime, this increase in numbers highlights the scale
of the disease and that we simply can't ignore it. As a result
the health systems across the UK must prioritise the treatment and
care of men with prostate cancer and quality must be increased.
"Despite recent improvements, prostate cancer still lags behind
other common cancers in terms of investment in research, services
and access to effective treatments. That is why we are developing
national standards of care for prostate cancer to ensure men with
the disease receive the same high quality service wherever they are
in the country. These issues urgently need to be addressed if we
are to avoid leaving men with prostate cancer behind once
again."