It’s a fact: prostate cancer now England’s most common cancer

Prostate cancer has become the most common cancer in England, with a massive 25% increase in cases between 2019 and 2023. 

NHS data shows the number of prostate cancer diagnoses has been higher than breast cancer for two years in a row following a surge in cases after the pandemic. 

The latest figures prove our recent awareness campaigns have made a big impact, leading to thousands more men getting an early, lifechanging diagnosis. 

And that’s not all. We now know more men are also receiving lifesaving radical treatments, while the number of men with slow-growing disease - who may be receiving these treatments unnecessarily - has remained low. 

A surge in cases that shows the huge impact of our awareness campaigns

We’ve analysed the latest data from the NHS in England - and it clearly shows prostate cancer has overtaken breast cancer as the most common cancer. 

In 2022, a total of 50,751 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in England - that’s compared to 48,531 breast cancer cases. And in 2023 there was a similar trend, with 55,033 men getting a prostate cancer diagnosis compared to 47,526 for breast cancer**. 

During the pandemic years, prostate cancer was impacted more than any other cancer. Because people were less likely to visit their GP, more than 14,000 men who should have been diagnosed and referred for treatment were missing from the health system. 

In 2022 we joined forces with the NHS and launched a national campaign to find the 14,000 ‘missing’ men. We also created our online Risk Checker, enabling men to find out their risk of prostate cancer and learn what they can do about it. 

These latest figures demonstrate the huge impact of our awareness campaigns - thanks to celebrities such as Nick Owen, Bill Turnbull and Colin McFarlane opening up about their experiences, as well as our incredible supporters sharing their own stories. 

‘Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today’

Andrew Loughran is just one of those men who's benefited from a lifechanging prostate cancer diagnosis.  

Andrew, 56, had a “gut feeling” he should get a PSA blood test because his dad had been diagnosed just a few years earlier. In 2022, Andrew took our online Risk Checker, which told him his risk was higher than average – and so he decided to speak to his GP. 

Even though he had no symptoms, Andrew decided to go ahead a PSA blood test and was later diagnosed with prostate cancer in June 2022. He went on to have successful brachytherapy treatment later that year, which has significantly reduced his PSA level. 

“I’ve found myself looking at things differently now," he said. "Post-cancer, I don’t sweat the small stuff.

“There’s a lot of people who say they don’t feel the same after a cancer diagnosis and I agree – it changes you. You appreciate things more. Doing things you like, listening to music, I’m learning to play the drums. Not putting off until tomorrow what you can do today!” 

More men now receiving lifesaving radical treatments

Alongside the recent increase in diagnoses, data from the National Prostate Cancer Audit reveals more good news - more men are now receiving lifesaving radical treatments.  

According to the NPCA’s ‘State of the Nation’ report, the number of men receiving radical prostatectomy increased by 17% from 2022 to 2023, while the number getting radical prostate radiotherapy is also up by 23%.***  

In cases where prostate cancer is slow-growing, some men are better off being monitored rather than treated. And for these men, the report shows the number who are receiving radical treatments – known as ‘overtreatment’ - has remained low and stable at 8%. 

This is important evidence that suggests the sharp rise in treatments is down to more men who urgently need to be treated getting a diagnosis. 

Awareness is growing - but we still need NHS guidelines to catch up

Despite the huge increase in prostate cancer cases, there’s still no national screening programme. And NHS guidelines currently prevent GPs from proactively talking to men at highest risk about the option of a free PSA blood test. As the disease often has no symptoms in its earlier stages, this situation means too many men find out they have cancer only after it’s spread and become harder to treat. 

This is leaving men in the dark about their prostate cancer risk and causing massive health inequities. It's about time things changed. 

“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," said Chiara De Biase, our Director of Health Services, Equity and Improvement. "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. 

“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. 

“The good news is that the way prostate cancer is diagnosed is safer and more accurate than ever, and the first step is a simple blood test – not a ‘finger up the bum’. If you’re worried about prostate cancer, the easiest thing you can do right now is take our quick online Risk Checker.” 

Stand with us and sign our letter to the Secretary of State

We’re calling on the government to change the outdated NHS guidelines that prevent GPs from proactively talking to men at highest risk about the option of a PSA blood test.

You can back our campaign and stand alongside thousands of other supporters by signing our letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP. 

SIGN THE LETTER

*More diagnoses of prostate cancer than breast cancer in England in 2022 and 2023. Rapid Cancer Registration Dataset, available at https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs/data/data-sets/rcrd 

**Rapid Cancer Registration Dataset, available at https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs/data/data-sets/rcrd 

***National Prostate Cancer Audit State of the Nation Report 2024, available at https://www.npca.org.uk/reports/npca-state-of-the-nation-report-2024/