More than 120 Members of Parliament have united in an urgent call for the introduction of a national prostate cancer screening programme, describing it as a potential 'legacy-defining advance for men's health'. In a powerful display of cross-party support, former Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was joined by Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians as he personally delivered the letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting at the Department of Health and Social Care.
A Defining Moment for Men's Health
The letter, coordinated by Prostate Cancer Research and seen by the Daily Mail, states that the UK has the potential to 'lead the world' in ending needless deaths from the disease. However, it warns the nation 'risks falling behind' other countries if it fails to establish targeted routine checks. This plea comes as prostate cancer has become the most common cancer in the UK, with a staggering 63,000 new cases and 12,000 deaths each year.
Unlike national screening programmes for breast, bowel, and lung cancer, there is currently no equivalent for prostate cancer. The MPs' letter argues that this creates a 'glaring gap in our prevention-first health strategy', leaving the detection of the most common cancer in men largely to chance. The UK National Screening Committee, which advises ministers, is set to meet to consider recent developments in prostate cancer diagnosis before issuing its recommendations.
Compelling Evidence for Change
The politicians present what they call 'compelling evidence' that historical arguments against screening—based on cost and over-diagnosis—are now outdated. They cite a major study from last month which found that screening men for prostate cancer slashes their risk of dying from the disease by 13 per cent. Crucially, the data shows that one death is prevented for every 456 men checked, a figure that is comparable to the success rates of existing breast and bowel cancer screening programmes.
Modern medical advances have significantly reduced the risks associated with screening. The letter highlights that modern MRI techniques have cut the harms of screening, such as unnecessary biopsies, by 79 per cent. Furthermore, the financial argument has been transformed. Modelling indicates that a targeted screening programme would cost the NHS just £18 for each man invited to checks. This is a fraction of the cost of treating late-stage cancer, which can reach £127,000 per patient, compared to just £13,000 if the disease is caught early.
The Human Cost of Inaction
The campaign, which is also backed by the Daily Mail, calls for a screening programme initially focused on high-risk men, including those who are black, have a family history of the disease, or carry particular genetic mutations. The MPs' letter powerfully states: 'We write united by a belief that no man should die because of his postcode, ethnicity, or GP access.'
This sentiment was echoed by Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, who said, 'We already have successful screening programmes for breast and bowel cancer, yet catching the most common cancer in men is left to chance.' The call for action gains further weight with the revelation that another former Conservative Prime Minister, David Cameron, has been treated for prostate cancer and is backing the campaign for a targeted screening programme.
The letter concludes with a powerful sense of urgency, insisting that the evidence is strong enough to act now and that waiting for 'perfect' data will only lead to more preventable deaths. With political will and medical advances aligned, the introduction of targeted screening could mark a historic turning point for men's health in the UK.
