Men must talk about dangers of prostate cancer, says Health Secretary Steve Barclay

An email campaign to reduce prostate cancer deaths was backed yesterday by the health minister.

Steve Barclay wants men to “make informed decisions when it comes to prostate checkups” because early detection and prompt treatment save lives.

He added: ‘Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, so I welcome the Mail’s campaign to raise awareness and get men talking about it. I want men to be able to make informed decisions when it comes to prostate checkups.

‘Men aged 50 and over can decide whether to request a free prostate-specific antigen blood test from the NHS. A PSA blood test can help diagnose prostate problems, including cancer, but it’s not a perfect test, so it’s important that men have all the information and can choose what’s best for them.’

Mr Barclay called on Mail readers to come forward and share their stories to help shape government policies to tackle serious illnesses.

He added, “If you’ve been affected by cancer, we need to hear from you.”

About 1,000 men a week are diagnosed with prostate cancer, making it the most common cancer in men and second only to breast cancer overall.

In just under one-fifth of annual diagnoses, the cancer is stage 4, meaning the cancer has already spread throughout the body, often making the cancer incurable. About 12,000 patients — one every 45 minutes — die from the disease each year.

Experts agree that early detection is key to increasing survival rates. However, because there is no national screening program, progress in reducing numbers is slow.

The Mail’s End The Needless Prostate Deaths campaign has won cross-party support, with support from Labor and the Liberal Democrats. Wes Streeting, Labor’s health spokesman, said it’s inexcusable that men have different chances of survival based on where they live.

The Mail has reported that men in parts of the North East are up to six times more likely to be diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer than counterparts in most parts of London.

Mr Streeting, himself a cancer survivor, said: ‘Patients in every part of the country need to be able to be tested, diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible. It’s unfair and inexcusable for some men to have such poorer odds when it comes to prostate cancer simply because of where they live.

“We need to end needless deaths from prostate cancer.

“It requires fundamental reform of the NHS, so it diagnoses disease and treats it much sooner.”

He added: ‘Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, so I welcome the Mail’s campaign to raise awareness and get men talking about it’

Mr Streeting was hospitalized in March 2021 with pain from a kidney stone before a scan revealed a malignant tumour. He underwent surgery and was declared cancer-free in 2021, an outcome he attributes to his lucky early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

Since men seek medical help only half as often as women, he said shyness or stoicism shouldn’t get in the way of lifesaving checkups.

Mr Streeting added: ‘As someone who owes his life to the NHS catching my cancer early, I encourage all men to get checked if you notice any symptoms.’

The Mail has been campaigning for more than 25 years to improve the treatment and diagnosis of prostate cancer. Because prostate tests are not good enough to allow for routine testing in the same way as for breast cancer, men should see their GP if they have symptoms.

Lib Dem health spokesperson Daisy Cooper said we all need to “do our part in breaking the stigma around prostate cancer” as too many families “lose the men they love way too soon.”

She added, “I fully support this campaign from the Mail and Prostate Cancer Research who is leading the charge.”