NHS to review prostate cancer tests after cycling star Chris Hoy calls for more screening
The NHS has been told by the Health Secretary to review its guidelines for prostate cancer testing in light of Sir Chris Hoy’s “strong” call for men in their 40s to be screened.
Olympic cycling champion Hoy, who has terminal cancer, urged men with a family history of prostate cancer to see their GP for a blood test, even if they are under 50.
“If you have a family history like I do, if you’re over 45, see your doctor,” Hoy told the BBC.
Currently, NHS guidelines for England say anyone can request a prostate-specific antigen test (PSA) if they are over 50 years old.
Asked about Hoy’s comments, Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said: “I think he makes a strong argument there.
“That’s why I’ve asked the NHS to look at the case for lowering the screening age for prostate cancer, and (he) even makes a particularly strong case where there is family history.”
Streeting’s intervention will likely raise eyebrows among experts and doctors. There is no national screening program for prostate cancer in the UK. This is because there is no reliable test that can detect prostate cancer that needs treatment at its early stages.
Researchers have also previously looked at the PSA test for screening for prostate cancer in people without symptoms.
But overall, studies show that this only leads to a small reduction in the number of men dying from prostate cancer. Studies also show that some men are diagnosed with prostate cancer that would not have caused any problems or required treatment.
Hoy, who has terminal prostate cancer, said more men should come forward for the PSA blood test.
Both his grandfather and father had prostate cancer.
He said men should be able to get a screening test when they are younger.
“Catch it before you need major treatment.” It seems like a no-brainer to me. Lower the age, let more men just go in and get a blood test.
“Maybe people seeing this or hearing my story – just by asking their GP – will generate enough interest that people making the decisions will say, ‘you know what, we need to address this.’ And in the long run, this will potentially save millions of lives.”
The charity Prostate Cancer UK advises that black people or those with a family history of prostate cancer may want to talk to their GP about having a PSA test from the age of 45.
Men with complaints of any age can request a test.
Men who have a brother or father with prostate cancer are 2.5 times more likely to develop the disease and the risk increases even further if they are younger than 60 at diagnosis.