An overwhelming majority of the British public is demanding the introduction of a national screening programme for prostate cancer, a major new poll has revealed. The survey, released on the eve of a critical government decision, shows the immense public pressure on officials to act on the UK's most common cancer.
Public Sentiment and Political Pressure
The extensive poll of 3,000 UK adults, commissioned by Prostate Cancer Research, found that 90 per cent of respondents believe it is important for the UK National Screening Committee to back the life-saving initiative. This includes a significant 62 per cent who described the rollout of routine checks as 'very important'.
Support was found to be strongest among older generations, rising to a remarkable 95 per cent among those aged 65 and over. The survey also highlighted that women with sons and grandsons were among the most fervent supporters of the proposed screening programme.
David James, Director of Patient Projects and Influencing at Prostate Cancer Research, stated: 'The public could not be clearer. People want action on prostate cancer, and they want it now.' He emphasised that with nine in ten adults supporting screening, decision-makers have a clear mandate to act.
The Current Landscape and Campaign Goals
Prostate cancer has become the most common cancer in the UK, with 63,000 new cases and 12,000 deaths recorded each year. Despite these alarming figures, unlike breast, bowel and lung cancer, there is currently no national screening programme in place.
The Daily Mail is actively campaigning to end needless prostate cancer deaths and is calling for a national screening programme. The campaign advocates for an initial focus on high-risk men, including those who are black, have a family history of the disease, or carry particular genetic mutations.
This targeted approach received strong public backing, with 80 per cent of poll respondents supporting it and only 4 per cent opposing the idea.
Political Crossroads and Expert Decision
The UK National Screening Committee is set to meet to consider the latest evidence on the costs and benefits before issuing a highly anticipated recommendation. The political stakes are high, with the poll revealing that support for prostate cancer screening crosses political party lines.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has vowed to launch a screening programme 'quickly' if the panel of expert advisors backs the move. He told MPs he will study the conclusions 'carefully' to 'reach the right way forward'. Although ministers typically follow the panel's recommendations, they are not legally compelled to do so.
The political momentum is building, with more than 120 MPs signing a letter delivered by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to Wes Streeting, describing a screening programme as a 'legacy-defining advance for men's health'.
The call for action is further supported by a major study published last month, which found that screening men for prostate cancer slashes their risk of dying from the disease by 13 per cent. The research indicated that one death is prevented for every 456 men checked, a figure comparable to the success rates of existing breast and bowel cancer screening programmes.
As the nation waits for the committee's decision, the message from the public, medical experts, and political leaders is unequivocal: the time for a national prostate cancer screening programme has come.
