Dr Amir Khan has urged men not to ignore potential prostate cancer symptoms, advising them to seek medical help promptly rather than waiting for screening tests. Speaking on ITV's This Morning, the doctor highlighted that prostate cancer affects one in eight men in the UK and leads to 12,000 deaths annually.
The GP addressed controversy around the PSA blood test, which is used to detect prostate cancer but is not always accurate. He explained that the UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) concluded the test is not accurate enough for widespread screening due to risks of false positives and false negatives, as well as detecting non-aggressive cancers that could lead to unnecessary treatment.
Currently, only men with the BRCA2 gene and a family history of certain cancers are recommended for screening every two years. Dr Khan acknowledged that this decision has upset campaigners and charities advocating for broader screening.
However, his main message was clear: men experiencing symptoms such as difficulty urinating or straining should not delay seeing their GP. He noted that the traditional digital rectal exam is no longer used, and a simple blood test is now the standard diagnostic tool.
The NHS advises men over 50, those of Black ethnic background, or those with a family history of prostate cancer to consult their GP if they are concerned or have symptoms.
