Prostate cancer has overtaken breast cancer to become the most common form of the disease across the United Kingdom, according to a major new analysis. The research reveals a dramatic surge in diagnoses, sparking urgent calls for a revamped national screening programme.
A Sharp Rise in Diagnoses
Charity Prostate Cancer UK found that 64,425 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022, the most recent year for which data is available. This compares with 61,640 diagnoses for breast cancer. The figure represents a startling 24 per cent increase from the 51,823 men diagnosed in 2021.
The disease was officially confirmed as the most common cancer in England in January 2023. Newly compiled statistics from Scotland, combined with data from Wales and Northern Ireland, have now provided the first UK-wide picture confirming its top position.
The Screening Debate Intensifies
The charity attributes a 42 per cent rise in diagnoses over the past decade to heightened awareness campaigns driven by charities, the NHS, and high-profile figures. However, it argues that the current approach places an unfair burden on men to initiate conversations about their risk.
This comes amid a heated debate over screening. The UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) issued a draft recommendation in December advising against making prostate cancer screening routinely available for most men. It stated that using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test for population-wide screening 'is likely to cause more harm than good', citing risks of overdiagnosis and side-effects from unnecessary treatments.
Instead, the committee suggested targeted screening only for men aged 45 to 61 with specific genetic mutations (BRCA1 and BRCA2) that significantly elevate risk.
High-Profile Calls for Change
The UKNSC's stance has been met with disappointment and surprise from many quarters. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was 'surprised by that decision' and is reviewing the findings. The Daily Mail has been campaigning for earlier diagnosis and a comprehensive screening programme.
Prominent figures who have had prostate cancer, including Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, broadcaster Sir Stephen Fry, and actor Sir Tony Robinson, have spoken out against the recommendation. Sir Chris Hoy emphasised: 'Prostate cancer is curable if found early... We need GPs to be able to proactively speak to men at highest risk.'
Prostate Cancer UK is calling for the NHS to adopt wider screening and is running a major clinical trial. This trial, due to report within two years, is investigating whether combining the PSA test with tools like rapid MRI scans could form the basis for a safe, effective national screening programme.
Addressing Stark Inequalities
The analysis also uncovered significant regional disparities in diagnosis and outcomes. Men living in more deprived areas are 29 per cent more likely to be diagnosed only after the cancer has spread compared to those in affluent areas. In Scotland, 31 per cent of men are diagnosed at a late stage, versus 21 per cent in England.
Chiara De Biase of Prostate Cancer UK stated: 'Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, but despite this, men are facing deeply unfair inequities... We urgently need an early detection programme that will address these regional inequities.' The charity urges men to use its online risk checker to understand their personal risk.
While Cancer Research UK supports the screening committee's cautious approach, the pressure for systemic change is mounting. The goal is to shift from a model reliant on individual initiative to one where the health service can proactively identify and protect those at greatest risk.
