Prostate cancer has overtaken breast cancer to become the most common cancer in Britain, as Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy issues a powerful plea for expanded screening to catch the disease earlier.
A Grim Milestone Reached
New analysis of NHS data by Prostate Cancer UK reveals a significant shift. In 2022, 64,425 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, surpassing the 61,640 diagnoses for breast cancer. This marks the first time prostate cancer has become the most prevalent cancer across the UK, following its rise to the top spot in England last January and now in Scotland.
The charity attributes a 42% rise in diagnoses over the past decade to increased awareness driven by campaigners, the NHS, and high-profile figures. While more men are being diagnosed, the call is now to ensure they are diagnosed early enough for a cure.
Hoy's Personal Plea for Systemic Change
Sir Chris Hoy, who received a terminal diagnosis, is at the forefront of the campaign. He argues that the current system places too much responsibility on men to initiate conversations about their risk.
"Prostate cancer is curable if found early," Sir Chris stated. "That's why it's vital we get the message out to men to think about their risk and to talk to their GP about a simple blood test to check. That way we'll get more men with prostate cancer diagnosed earlier, and we'll save thousands more lives."
He is specifically calling for GPs to be empowered to proactively offer the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test to men at highest risk: Black men and those with a family history of the disease. "It shouldn't be only men's responsibility to make these potentially lifesaving conversations happen," he added.
The Screening Debate and NHS Stance
The campaign faces a significant hurdle. In December 2025, the UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) issued a draft recommendation against making routine prostate cancer screening available for the majority of men. The committee advised that the PSA test was not reliable enough and a wider rollout was "likely to cause more harm than good."
The UKNSC's concerns centre on the test's accuracy. A high PSA level does not always mean cancer, and some cancers are missed. This can lead to unnecessary invasive treatments for slow-growing tumours, risking serious side-effects like incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
Instead, the committee only recommended screening every two years for men aged 45-61 with specific BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations. This decision has been met with criticism. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said he is "surprised" by the finding and is reviewing it.
Prostate Cancer UK is pushing forward with a major clinical trial, due to report within two years, investigating whether combining the PSA test with other diagnostics like rapid MRI scans could form the basis for a safe, population-wide screening programme.
Chiara De Biase, Director at Prostate Cancer UK, said: "We're hugely proud to have played our part in the growing awareness... But it's unacceptable that the full weight of responsibility still falls on men to understand their risk and talk to their GP about the pros and cons of a PSA test."
As the data confirms prostate cancer's rising prevalence, the debate intensifies over how best to balance the urgent need for early detection with the risks of over-diagnosis and treatment.
