5 million men.
It’s a number that’s hard to picture. It’s the number of people it would take to fill Wembley Stadium 55 times over. It’s also the number of people who have taken our online Risk Checker.
That’s 5 million men who have stopped for 30 seconds to think about their health.
5 million men who have asked themselves whether they could be at risk of prostate cancer and found out what they can do about it.
It’s a huge milestone for the Risk Checker. But more than that, it’s a milestone for men’s health.
Because behind the number is something powerful: men are becoming more aware of prostate cancer, more willing to talk about it, and more ready to take that next step when it comes to their health.
A simple check that could save your life
1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer.
And that risk is even higher for those over 50, Black men, and men with a family history of prostate cancer.
The earlier you find prostate cancer, the easier it is to treat. But early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose.
That’s why our Risk Checker is so important. It only takes 30 seconds. But for men at higher risk, it gives them the information they need to decide if they want a PSA blood test.
As Amy Rylance, our Director of Health Services, Equity and Improvement, explains, “prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, but too many men are still being diagnosed by chance, and sadly, too late for a cure. Our Risk Checker helps men navigate this complex disease, empowering men with a clear way to understand their risk and their choices.”
And getting more men to take that first step often starts with awareness.
Thanks to the conversations people like you are already having with the men in your lives, we’ve been able to help men across the country understand their risk and take action.
And recently, we’ve also seen the impact that high-profile voices can have in getting men to think about their prostate cancer risk.
When famous faces start conversations
Over the last 12 months, Jeremy Clarkson and Lord David Cameron have both spoken openly about their prostate cancer diagnoses and treatment, bringing conversations about the disease to millions of men and their families.
And the response was striking.
The day after Lord Cameron announced his diagnosis, more than 22,000 men took the Risk Checker – an incredible 937% increase on the previous Monday. Months later, Jeremy Clarkson revealed his diagnosis in Clarkson’s Farm, prompting nearly 51,000 men to check their risk over the next week – a 504% increase on the week before!
And a combined total for the full month after each man made their announcements shows more than 206,000 men checking their risk as a result.
It shows the power of mass awareness. When prostate cancer becomes part of the national conversation, it can reach men who may never have thought prostate cancer was something they needed to worry about.
For Jeremy Clarkson, that response is exactly why he has continued to speak out.
If my story gets even one bloke to stop ignoring the issue and do something about it, then it’s been worthwhile.
He says early detection saved his life. And now he wants other men to know their risk.
As he puts it: “If you’re a man, check your risk. [...] it could save your life.”
Changing how prostate cancer is found
We launched the Risk Checker during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, when NHS data showed thousands of men were missing their chance of an early diagnosis of prostate cancer.
There was limited public understanding of prostate cancer risk factors, alongside misconceptions that men needed to wait for suspicious symptoms before doing anything.
So, campaigning alongside NHS England, we created a simple way for men to understand their risk, and diagnoses have been on the rise ever since.
But we haven’t stopped there.
We’re working to change how prostate cancer is found through our ambitious new TRANSFORM trial – a once-in-a-generation trial to find the best way to screen all men for prostate cancer.
There’s still no screening programme for prostate cancer, despite it being the most common cancer in the UK. So, finding a reliable way to detect the disease earlier could mean more men being diagnosed when their cancer is easier to treat – and more families having more time together.
5 million men have taken the first step. Have you?
5 million men taking our Risk Checker is a huge achievement, but our work won’t stop until we reach the millions more who are out there and don’t know if they’re at a higher risk of prostate cancer.
So, if you haven’t taken the Risk Checker yet, take 30 seconds to do it today.
And if you already have, keep the conversation going. Talk to the men in your life and encourage them to take it too. A conversation with your dad, brother, partner, or mate could be the nudge they need to start thinking about their prostate cancer risk.
The more men who know they’re at risk, the more chances we have to find prostate cancer earlier – and ultimately save lives.
