Wes Streeting has declared his backing for a national prostate cancer screening programme in a major boost for the Mail’s campaign.
The health secretary told MPs he would like to see the NHS proactively offer men tests for the disease in a move that could prevent thousands of needless deaths.
He said he is ‘particularly sympathetic’ to the argument that this should initially be targeted at high-risk men.
Black people and those with a family history of prostate cancer are included in this.
His comments came a day after a landmark poll revealed 94 percent of GPs also back the Mail’s calls for such a scheme.
Analysis by Prostate Cancer Research indicates this would lead to an additional 775 cases being diagnosed early each year among men aged 45 to 69.
Later this year, the UK National Screening Committee, which advises the government on which screening programs to offer, is expected to report on its conclusions after taking into account recent advancements in the detection of prostate cancer.
Writing exclusively in the Mail today, Mr Streeting says: ‘I hope they can recommend a way forward that allows the NHS to seek out prostate cancer more proactively for those most at risk.’
Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed form of cancer in England, with 55,033 cases identified in 2023, the latest figures reveal.
Detecting prostate cancer early improves the probability of successfully treating the disease, which kills about 10,200 men in England each year.
There is presently a screening programme for breast, bowel and cervical cancer – but not for prostate.
In front of members of the Commons Health and Social Care Committee, Mr Streeting stated his support for prostate cancer screening.
Joe Robertson, Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East, asked Mr Streeting: ‘Can I finish by asking whether you would like to see a national prostate cancer screening programme for men at high risk of the disease?’
He replied: ‘I would, I would like to see that.
‘But, and this is such an important but, decisions in this area do need to be evidence-based and evidence-led, and that’s why we have a National Screening Committee.
‘So, I’ve asked the National Screening Committee to look at this, and they are.
‘I think there is an even more compelling case around groups that are at higher risk of prostate cancer.’
Speaking earlier in the day, Mr Streeting told BBC Breakfast: ‘I’m particularly sympathetic to the arguments that are being made about the need for screening for those men who are more susceptible to the risk of this type of cancer.’
LBC radio presenter Nick Ferrari told Mr Streeting he has been given the all-clear after having a test two weeks ago and asked his opinion of the Mail’s campaign.
He replied: ‘This is a really important campaign.
‘Awareness is really important, and making sure that people do go and get checked is important – if there are any worrying signs or symptoms – that people go and get checked and don’t feel awkward about talking about it.
‘There shouldn’t be a taboo around this any more than there should be a taboo around issues like breast cancer or anything else, frankly.’
Leading prostate cancer charities last night welcomed Mr Streeting’s support and urged the screening committee to follow suit.
Amy Rylance, assistant director of health improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: ‘It’s great to hear Wes Streeting express his support for a prostate cancer screening programme, and acknowledging that some men have a higher risk of getting the disease than others.
‘We are a data and evidence-based charity.
‘We know that diagnosing prostate cancer is safer and more accurate than ever before and that targeted screening of the most at-risk men will save thousands of men’s lives a year.
‘We submitted our evidence backing this up to the National Screening Committee over two years ago – it’s about time we got a decision.’
David James, director of patient projects and influencing at Prostate Cancer Research, said: ‘We enthusiastically welcome Wes Streeting’s personal support for introducing a national screening programme for men at highest risk of prostate cancer.
‘The evidence shows that targeted screening will save lives, deliver an economic boost to the country, ease long-term pressure on the NHS, and tackle unacceptable health inequalities.
‘The public is behind it, and healthcare professionals support it. We urge the National Screening Committee to formally recommend this change.’
Prostate cancer has claimed the lives of several people in recent years, including BBC News host Bill Turnbull, Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman, and Formula One chairman Eddie Jordan.
Chef Ken Hom, comedian Sir Stephen Fry, and Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy have all discussed their diagnoses to help spread the word about the illness.
It’s about time because tens of thousands of men die of this disease in Britain each year. This disease has been neglected for funding for years, and it’s the biggest killer of men, yet it has gone under the radar.
What they should do is arrange for a person to see their nurse at their local GP practice so that they can have a PSA test every year from the age of 45 onward.
PSA testing (Prostrate-Specific Antigen) is a blood test that measures the amount of PSA, a protein produced by the prostate gland, in your blood, and can help detect possible prostate concerns, including prostate cancer.
Their recommended nationwide screening criteria are inadequate. In the UK, they will only check males who are Black or who have a family history of prostate cancer, which is a very small portion of the male population.
Also, Wes Streeting needs to get a move on because it shouldn’t take this long for something so important to get approval.
The problem is, there is no extra staff, no additional pools of cash, and that’s why these people have been left without testing. It takes a long time to train extra urologists, radiologists and pathologists, and there needs to be money to increase the capacity for this.
The NHS just can’t cope, what with the world and his wife using it for free. I mean, how much did they spend on interpreters in the last five years? Funny how that never gets published.
I could never comprehend why women were screened routinely but men were not – a tad discriminating, don’t you think? And not having this screening programme is a national disgrace. If a woman had a prostate things would have moved a lot quicker.
However, Wes Streeting needs an NHS that is able to cope. Urology departments will have their workloads at least doubled. He will thus need to double their budgets or screening will lead to lengthy waiting lists for treatment, which kind of defeats the objective of early detection.
I wonder whether Wes Streeting is simply wearing the emperor’s new clothes because he appears to talk a lot.
Honestly, I don’t think any of this will ever happen.
As a gender, men are useless at looking after themselves and getting tested for anything. Women are much more proactive and push for regular screening, and good for them, but men have to wake up too because it’s a lengthy process to get screened and that in itself is extremely scary.
It’s considerate of Wes to shift the blame on the screening committee, making them accountable if it is denied. I would instruct the NHS to screen and fire any non-compliant individuals.
These are more promises that probably won’t be kept. One step closer, but how many more years before it becomes a reality? Wes appears to be able to talk the talk but will he put all that talking into practice?
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 