Lord Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader, has announced he is taking a leave of absence from the House of Lords following the recurrence of his prostate cancer. He was initially diagnosed with non-aggressive prostate cancer in March 2023 and later received the all-clear, but was informed earlier this year that the disease had returned.
While initial tests suggest the cancer has now “gone”, Lord Watson is scheduled to undergo further checks later this summer for confirmation. He described the recurrence as a “wake-up call” to prioritise his health, having also struggled with regaining weight after ceasing exercise following his initial diagnosis.
His announcement comes as the government recently advised against a population-wide prostate cancer screening programme, instead recommending testing for a smaller group of high-risk men.
