Three steps the Government must take to start saving men’s lives today

Finding prostate cancer early is crucial to saving men’s lives – which is why we’re calling on ministers to take action on early detection right now.

With thousands of politicians and party members gathering in Liverpool for the Labour Party Conference this week, we’re seizing the moment and urging the Government to help more men find prostate cancer early, when it’s easier to treat. 

During the conference we met with Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP and also with Health Minister Ashley Dalton MP, who pledged to work with us  to “tackle prostate cancer together”.

Right now we’re approaching a critical turning point on our path to the UK’s first ever prostate cancer screening programme , with an announcement expected before the end of this year.

But we can’t stand still and wait for screening while more men miss out on a potentially lifechanging early diagnosis. That’s why we’re calling for the Government to act today, by taking three important steps that would start saving men’s lives straight away.

Change outdated guidelines so GPs can start lifesaving conversations

1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer, but we know that Black men and men with a family history of the disease face an even higher risk.

Today, however, NHS guidelines treat all men the same. GPs are told not to raise the subject of prostate cancer with men unless they have symptoms – even though symptoms don’t usually show up in the early stages.

This outdated guidance is putting men’s lives at risk. And we need to change it now – because the earlier you find prostate cancer, the easier it is to treat.

That’s why we’re calling on the Government to change these rules, so GPs can start potentially lifesaving conversations about prostate cancer – and the option of a PSA blood test to check for early warning signs – with men who are at highest risk.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Prostate Cancer UK’s Chiara De Biase at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool

Scrap confusing patient information and roll out our simple online Risk Checker

When it comes to informing men about their risk of prostate cancer and supporting them to choose their next steps, we’ve developed a  quick and simple tool that’s already proven to be effective.

More than 4 million men have used our online Risk Checker  since 2021, taking just 30 seconds to find out if they’re at higher risk of prostate cancer.

By answering three simple questions, millions of men have taken the first step to knowing their risk – and, potentially, an early diagnosis that could save their life. But to make sure every man understands his risk of the disease, there are still millions more we need to reach.

So we’re urging ministers to overhaul ineffective patient information and encourage men to use our Risk Checker instead.

Fund nationwide awareness programmes to make sure every man knows his risk

It’s not only the Risk Checker that has the potential to save men’s lives. We need major investment in nationwide risk awareness campaigns, to make sure all men know their risk of prostate cancer and can make an informed choice about whether to have a PSA blood test.

“I’m one of the lucky ones,” says 63-year-old John Fisher, who found out he had prostate cancer after a routine check-up with his GP.

“I didn’t have any symptoms whatsoever. Thankfully, I found it early enough to get lifesaving treatments, so I’m doing well now and enjoying my retirement. If I’d left it even a few more months, it would have been incurable.”

John lives in Heswall in Merseyside, close to where the Labour Party Conference is taking place this week. As a volunteer with our One-to-One Peer Support service , John is proud to raise awareness in his local community and support other men who are going through a prostate cancer diagnosis. He says ministers should give the disease the attention it deserves.

“It’s definitely about time the Government took decisive action, to make sure more men can get an early diagnosis like I did,” he says. “In the meantime, I urge all men to find out their risk of getting this awful disease by taking Prostate Cancer UK’s online Risk Checker.”

Stand with us and join our call for urgent action on early detection

Too many men are dying from prostate cancer, simply because they find it too late. But it doesn’t need to be this way – ministers can act now to make diagnosing the disease faster, fairer and better.

“Prostate cancer is England’s most common cancer – and it’s the last major cancer without a screening programme,” said Laura Kerby, our Chief Executive. “Too many men are dying, and the UK faces an unacceptable reality where if you’re Black or from a working-class area, you’re more likely to get an incurable diagnosis.

“While we’re looking forward to the screening decision later this year, we need to take action now to fight these shocking inequalities and ensure more men get an early, lifesaving diagnosis.”

Sign up to our mailing list today  to stand with us and join our campaign for an early detection programme for men at highest risk of prostate cancer.

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