Family doctors overwhelmingly support the Mail’s campaign for a national prostate cancer screening programme, a landmark poll reveals.
A near-unanimous 94 per cent of GPs say the Government should roll out the life-saving checks, initially targeting high-risk men.
With prostate cancer now more common than breast cancer, bringing in screening is likely to save hundreds of lives a year. The doctors join cancer charities and former prime minister Rishi Sunak in arguing the move could save money and prevent needless deaths.
Sir Keir Starmer last night also praised the Mail campaign for bringing widespread awareness to one of the country’s most pressing health issues.
He said: ‘Too many of us will sadly know someone affected by prostate cancer. The Mail is absolutely right to shine a light on this vital issue.’
Prostate is the most diagnosed form of cancer in England, with 55,033 cases identified in 2023, the latest figures show. Catching it early improves the odds of successfully treating the disease, which kills around 10,200 men in England each year.
The NHS offers national screening programmes for breast, bowel and cervical cancers – but not for prostate cancer.
Analysis by Prostate Cancer Research suggests such a scheme would lead to an extra 775 cases being diagnosed early each year among high-risk men aged 45 to 69. These include those who are black, have a family history of the disease, or have a particular genetic mutation.
Family doctors overwhelmingly support the Mail’s campaign for a national prostate cancer screening programme, a landmark poll reveals. Pictured: File photo
Sir Keir Starmer last night also praised the Mail campaign for bringing widespread awareness to one of the country’s most pressing health issues
It comes after Soho House founder Nick Jones (left, with presenter Kirsty Young, right), a trustee for Prostate Cancer Research, told the Mail he would lobby for screening after he survived the disease
It would also spare almost 300 men a year from a stage 4 diagnosis, when the tumour has spread around the body, making it incurable. There would be a net economic benefit of £11,900 for every man diagnosed, the study found.
The latest survey, conducted by One Poll, found that 94 per cent of a sample of 400 GPs across the UK support a rollout of a national screening programme for high-risk groups.
Some 93 per cent believe the screening would improve diagnosis rates and patient outcomes, and a similar number believe that recent developments in diagnostic processes have reduced the risk of over-diagnosing the disease, which has previously hampered support.
This is because men are now offered an MRI scan in addition to a PSA blood test, to reduce the number who need invasive biopsies.
It comes after Soho House founder Nick Jones, a trustee for Prostate Cancer Research, told the Mail he would lobby for screening after he survived the disease. Formula One boss Eddie Jordan, Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman and BBC News presenter Bill Turnbull are among those who have died from prostate cancer in recent years.
Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, comedian Sir Stephen Fry and chef Ken Hom have spoken about their diagnosis to raise awareness of the disease. Currently, men are tested if they approach their GP with potential symptoms, by which time the disease may be in the later stages when it is more difficult to treat.
Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said: ‘Thanks to well-known men talking about their diagnosis and the hard work of our staff, the NHS is diagnosing more men with prostate cancer at an earlier stage than ever before, so that if they need treatment it has the best chance of success.
‘The NHS is also improving the diagnosis of prostate cancer by using hi-tech mpMRI scans, which means many men can avoid the need for a time consuming and invasive biopsy, so I encourage men to get checked out, if they have any concerns around their health.’
The PM said: ‘Too many of us will sadly know someone affected by prostate cancer. The Mail is absolutely right to shine a light on this vital issue’ (pictured)
Formula One boss Eddie Jordan (pictured) is among those who have died from prostate cancer in recent years
Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy (pictured) has spoken about his diagnosis to raise awareness of the disease
Former prime minister Rishi Sunak (pictured) has argued bringing in screening could save money and prevent needless deaths. Pictured: Mr Sunak at Oxford Biodynamics, a company which offers a prostate cancer blood test for screening
The UK National Screening Committee, which advises the Government on which screening programmes to offer, is reviewing evidence into the benefits of prostate cancer screening for high-risk men and is due to make a recommendation later this year.
Mr Sunak told the House of Commons in February that he would like to see the committee back the rollout, saying: ‘We can not only save the NHS money, make progress towards the Government’s early diagnosis targets but most crucially save thousands of lives.’
The One Poll survey also highlighted the need for better training for GPs, with 62 per cent unaware of one or more of the major risk factors. When asked to identify which groups of men were at the highest risk, just 38 per cent correctly identified black men and 53 per cent correctly identified men with a close family history.
Dr Chris Langley, an Oxfordshire GP whose surgery has been proactively reaching out to high-risk patients for the past two years, said: ‘The clear health inequality in prostate cancer outcomes requires action. This survey demonstrates that GPs across the UK are ready to embrace a targeted screening programme to address this unacceptable disparity.
‘Yet, the findings also highlight gaps in awareness of key risk factors, reinforcing the need for clearer national guidelines. We know that men from high-risk groups are disproportionately affected by this disease and face worse outcomes. As GPs, we have a responsibility to advocate for equal access to healthcare and early cancer diagnosis.’
David James, of Prostate Cancer Research, which commissioned the survey, said: ‘GPs are on the frontline of men’s health, and their overwhelming support for a targeted prostate cancer screening programme sends a clear message: the status quo isn’t working.
‘While GPs back change, our findings also highlight gaps in awareness around key risk factors – which reinforces the urgent need for a national screening programme. This is about delivering better outcomes, reducing suffering, and ensuring no man is held back by his background or his genetic predisposition.’
The Department of Health said: ‘The UK National Screening Committee is reviewing evidence for prostate cancer screening, including targeted approaches for men at higher risk, and the department is investing £16 million into research to catch prostate cancer as early as possible.
‘Prostate cancer patients are waiting too long for diagnosis and treatment but through our National Cancer Plan we will transform the way we treat cancer.’
