Our manifesto for the next Government

We need to reduce health inequalities and late-stage diagnosis by proactively informing highest-risk men about the PSA blood test and updating NHS guidelines to improve access to testing.

Executive summary

• Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the UK.
• Only half of prostate cancers are caught in the early stages, falling short of the NHS target of 75%.
• Black men face twice the risk of diagnosis and death from prostate cancer.
• Men from deprived areas are 29% more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage prostate cancer, which is harder to treat.
• Without a screening programme and often no symptoms in the early stages, detecting prostate cancer early enough requires proactive action.
• While men have the option to request a PSA blood test, many face barriers to access.

We're asking for one simple thing from whoever wins the next election: start proactively informing men who are at the highest risk of prostate cancer about the PSA blood test.

The PSA blood test is the first step in diagnosing prostate cancer and is currently free to men aged 50 and over. While men have the option to request it, many are unaware of its existence.

The current system is failing men. It's unjust, it's unfair, and it's time to put an end to it.

Currently, only half of prostate cancers are caught in the early stages, falling short of the NHS target of 75%. To hit that target, we must take action to reduce health inequalities and diagnose high-risk men earlier. It's urgent, and it's time to act.

Men at risk

1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer. If they’re over 50, if they’re Black, or if their dad or brother had it, they’re at even higher risk. For Black men especially, their risk doubles to 1 in 4.

These are the men that are most affected by prostate cancer and the ones we mean when we say "highest risk".

On top of the biological factors, there is a huge postcode lottery when it comes to men getting an early prostate cancer diagnosis. Due to challenges in accessing healthcare, men in more deprived areas of the UK are 29% more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage prostate cancer, which is harder to treat.

The problem

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the UK. Each year, over 52,000 men get this diagnosis, and more than 12,000 lose their lives to it. But it doesn't have to be this way.

Diagnosing men earlier, when their cancer is more treatable, is critical. Unlike many other cancers, prostate cancer doesn't have a screening programme, and it often doesn't show any symptoms until it's advanced.

NHS guidelines state that the PSA blood test is free for men aged 50 and over who request it but the guidance around testing is outdated and doesn’t consider individual risk factors (such as ethnicity and family history). This means that too often men are talked out of accessing PSA testing by well-meaning, but misinformed, GPs.

The NHS offers a free PSA blood test for men who are 50 and over if they ask for it, but the guidance around testing is outdated. By making men request the test themselves, the system benefits those who already receive better health care, which makes existing health care inequalities even worse.

The solution

Proactively informing men who are at the highest risk of prostate cancer about PSA testing is likely to reduce prostate cancer deaths in the UK. To diagnose prostate cancer sooner, we must end the reliance on men needing to ask for tests.

We urge the next Government to make this a priority. By including our recommendations in their manifesto, they can show their dedication to fighting health inequalities and saving lives. We must act now; it's time to change the system so no one falls through the cracks.

Our recommendations

We believe the next Government should:

• Update NHS guidelines for PSA blood testing, incorporating the latest evidence on the safer, more accurate diagnostic pathway, and identifying the highest-risk men.
• Reach out proactively to men aged 45-69 at the highest risk of prostate cancer, informing them of their risk, PSA blood testing and the wider diagnostic pathway.
• Develop a funded plan to raise awareness of the guidelines among men and healthcare providers.
• Set up services outside primary care for high-risk men aged 45-69 to access PSA blood tests.