A cancer specialist is urging men to speak out and have a five-minute conversation that many shy away from because they "don't want to cause a fuss". Dr Jiri Kubes believes this discussion could be among the most significant they will ever have.
Prostate cancer statistics in the UK
Prostate cancer is the most prevalent cancer amongst men, typically affecting those aged over 65. According to Cancer Research UK, approximately 57,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in the UK, equating to roughly 160 per day. While four out of five of these will survive 10 years or more, 12,000 men die of the disease every year.
In its early stages, prostate cancer frequently presents no symptoms, making it crucial for men to establish whether they fall into a higher-risk category. Dr Kubes, medical director and radiation oncologist specialising in prostate cancer treatment at the Proton Therapy Center, is now calling on men to stop 'putting off' discussions about the disease.
Expert calls for earlier conversations
He says: "Too often we hear that men have concerns and haven't sought help because they don't want to cause a fuss. This needs to stop."
Dr Kubes is encouraging men to consider whether they belong to an 'at-risk' group and raise this with their GP. He explains: "We don't want men to wait until they experience symptoms to start thinking about their risk of prostate cancer. The conversations need to start earlier than that."
Who is most at risk?
Dr Kubes says: "We know some men are more likely to develop prostate cancer. Risk increases with age, with most men affected being over the age of 50. Black men and those with a history of prostate cancer in their family, such as a father or brother with the disease, are also more at risk."
Macmillan Cancer Support also highlights that the risk is elevated in those with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Dr Kubes said: "If you fall into one of these at-risk groups you don't need to wait for symptoms to appear before you talk to your GP. Some men may feel uncomfortable discussing a sensitive area with their doctor but there really is no need to be embarrassed. Discussing the prostate or urinary habits is as normal for a doctor as talking about something like blood pressure."
Later symptoms and screening
Situated beneath the bladder, the prostate is a walnut-sized gland. In its early stages, prostate cancer frequently develops without any noticeable symptoms, as these typically only manifest once the tumour has grown sufficiently to exert pressure on the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder.
Once this occurs, symptoms may include increased frequency of urination, difficulty urinating, or a sensation that the bladder hasn't been fully emptied. However, these symptoms can arise for other reasons and don't necessarily indicate cancer.
Dr Kubes said: "In the UK there is currently no national screening for prostate cancer like there is for diseases such as breast cancer. The best thing you can do if you fall into an at-risk group is talk to your GP. They can discuss with you a PSA test, which shows levels of prostate-specific antigens in the blood. There are pros and cons to taking the test, which is why they are not routinely offered to everyone, but your doctor can discuss if the test is right for you."
"If you are experiencing any symptoms which don't feel normal for you or are causing you concern, then speak to your doctor about this, too. In many cases they may simply be down to an enlarged prostate, which is very common as men get older, but it's always best to make sure."
Treatment options and UK guidelines
An early diagnosis significantly increases the likelihood of successful treatment and provides access to a wider range of treatment options. "Proton beam therapy is available for prostate cancer and aims to reduce side effects," Dr Kubes explained. "That's because it uses a beam of high-energy protons that can be targeted precisely at cancer cells, which may limit the dose to surrounding tissues and organs. In an area as delicate as the prostate, this may help protect things like urinary and sexual function."
Certain cancers, including breast and cervical cancer, benefit from routine screening programmes where those without symptoms are tested for early-stage cancer, or for changes that could potentially develop into cancer if left untreated. However, for such screening to be worthwhile, the tests need to be reliable at picking up cancers that need treatment, overall must do more good than harm to people taking part, and must be something that people are willing to do.
Cancer Research UK advises: "Screening tests are not perfect and have some harms as well as benefits." It adds: "In the UK, there is an independent body of experts. They are called the National Screening Committee (UK NSC). The UK NSC makes recommendations to governments on screening programmes. They base these on the best scientific evidence. The UK NSC will only recommend a screening programme if overall, the benefits outweigh the harms. The screening programme should also be good value for money for the NHS."
However, new guidelines are being introduced. The charity explains: "The UK NSC has recently reviewed all of the evidence on prostate cancer screening. They looked at this alongside feedback from organisations, experts and the public. In May 2026 they gave their final recommendation. Currently, the UK NSC does not recommend screening all men for prostate cancer. This is because the is not a reliable enough test to screen all men. And there isn't enough strong evidence to show that screening everyone would do more good than harm. The UK NSC has recommended targeted prostate cancer screening instead. Targeted screening means offering screening to people who are at higher risk of cancer. In June 2026 the UK government accepted the UK NSC's recommendations for targeted prostate cancer screening in England."
