Prostate cancer has officially become the most commonly diagnosed cancer across the United Kingdom, according to a major new analysis. The disease has now overtaken breast cancer, which had long held the top spot, marking a significant shift in the nation's health landscape.
A Stark Rise in Diagnoses
Figures compiled by the charity Prostate Cancer UK show that 64,425 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022. This compares with 61,640 cases of breast cancer diagnosed in the same year. The data indicates a sharp 24 per cent increase in prostate cancer diagnoses from the previous year, when 51,823 cases were recorded.
While prostate cancer was already confirmed as the most common cancer in England in January 2025, the newly released data from Scotland, combined with existing figures from Wales and Northern Ireland, now provides a complete UK-wide picture. The charity points to a 42 per cent rise in diagnoses over the past decade, a surge it attributes to successful awareness campaigns led by charities, the NHS, and high-profile individuals.
The Screening Debate Intensifies
In response to the escalating numbers, Prostate Cancer UK is urgently calling for the NHS to implement wider screening using the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test. The organisation is also running a major clinical trial, with results expected within two years, to evaluate whether combining the PSA test with other methods like rapid MRI scans could justify a national screening programme for all men.
This push, however, clashes with a recent draft recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC). In December 2025, the committee advised the government that prostate cancer screening should not be routinely offered to the vast majority of men in the UK. The UKNSC argued that population screening using the PSA test alone "is likely to cause more harm than good," due to risks of overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment. Instead, it recommended biennial screening only for men aged 45 to 61 with BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations, who are at much higher risk.
The committee's stance has sparked controversy. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has expressed surprise at the decision and is reviewing the findings. The recommendation has also been criticised by several prominent figures diagnosed with the disease, including Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy, former prime minister Lord David Cameron, broadcaster Sir Stephen Fry, and actor Sir Tony Robinson.
Addressing Inequity and Empowering Men
Chiara De Biase, director of health services at Prostate Cancer UK, commented on the new data: "We’re hugely proud to have played our part in the growing awareness of prostate cancer... But it’s unacceptable that the full weight of responsibility still falls on men to understand their risk." She highlighted "deeply unfair inequities" across the country, where a man's experience varies drastically based on where he lives.
The charity's analysis reveals troubling disparities: men living in more deprived areas are 29 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer that has already spread, compared to those in affluent areas. Furthermore, while diagnoses have risen in Scotland, men there are more prone to a late-stage diagnosis (31%) than men in England (21%).
Sir Chris Hoy added his voice to the call for systemic change: "Prostate cancer is curable if found early... We need GPs to be able to proactively speak to men at highest risk... It shouldn’t be only men’s responsibility." The charity argues that current NHS guidelines prevent GPs from initiating these vital conversations with high-risk men.
As the debate over the reliability of the PSA test continues among experts, Prostate Cancer UK urges men to take proactive steps. The charity encourages using its free online risk checker to understand personal risk levels, a tool already used by four million men. The overarching message is clear: with prostate cancer now the UK's most common cancer, the nation's approach to detection and care requires urgent reassessment.
