Prostate cancer cases surge by 100,000 in six years as one man diagnosed ‘every eight minutes’
Experts said increased awareness of the disease and the ageing population in the UK could be factors behind the rise.
The number of men living with prostate cancer in the UK has surged by 100,000 since 2020, a charity has said.
Listen to this article
Macmillan Cancer Support said the latest figures show more than 68,000 men are newly diagnosed in the UK each year – the equivalent of one diagnosis every eight minutes.
The charity’s latest estimates, shared exclusively with the Press Association, show there are now around 600,000 men living with prostate cancer in the UK, compared with around 500,000 in 2020.
It said prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in the UK.
Read More: TikTok agree to pay nearly £300 million in US children's privacy settlement
Read More: Harry and Meghan’s security: officials ‘will reconsider armed protection’
Experts said increased awareness of the disease and the ageing population in the UK could be factors behind the rise.
The charity has warned that “myths” surrounding the disease could be preventing men from getting checked.
Dr Anthony Cunliffe, lead medical adviser at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “One of the biggest misunderstandings I hear is that feeling well means you cannot have prostate cancer.
“Many people are surprised to learn that, in reality, prostate cancer often develops without symptoms in its early stages, which is why it’s important to have a conversation with your GP if you’re worried.”
The charity said some men with the disease will not see symptoms for many years and symptoms usually occur when the cancer is large enough to press on the urethra – the tube which passes urine.
When symptoms occur they include: difficulty urinating; needing to urinate more often than usual, especially at night; a feeling that the bladder has not been completely emptied; an urgency when needing the toilet; blood in urine; blood in semen.
Macmillan said it is important for men to speak to their GP if they have any of these symptoms.
Dr Cunliffe added: “Prostate cancer generally occurs in men over 50 but it can develop earlier in some groups, including black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer.
“As a GP, if, after discussing testing with a patient, we decide together to go ahead, then we often use a blood test called a PSA (prostate specific antigen).
“Some GPs may suggest an examination of the prostate, because it might give them more information, but this isn’t always necessary and declining one won’t be a barrier to having a blood test.
“So, whether someone with a prostate has symptoms or not, we would always encourage speaking to the GP for more information about prostate cancer and getting tested.”
Dr Cunliffe said: “While there isn’t one single reason behind the rise in prostate cancer, an ageing and growing population is a big part of the picture.
“As people live longer, more are at risk of being diagnosed, as age is one of the biggest risk factors for prostate cancer.
“We’re also getting better at diagnosing and treating cancer, meaning more people are living longer with and beyond a diagnosis. Alongside that, increased awareness is hugely beneficial, and celebrities including Chris Hoy and Jeremy Clarkson are helping to raise awareness that then encourages people to get checked.”
Earlier this year, the UK National Screening Committee recommended against screening all men using the PSA blood test, saying it is “likely to cause more harm than good”.
Experts did recommend that a few thousand high-risk men with a certain gene mutation should be screened for the disease.
Officials also announced that a screening trial will be expanded so that all eligible black men will be invited to take part.
Commenting on the figures, Dr Matthew Hobbs, director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “These figures from Macmillan Cancer Support highlight the growing number of men living with prostate cancer across the UK, which is being driven by a combination of different factors.
“We know that greater awareness of the disease has contributed to the recent surge in cases, as has the ageing population in the UK, with prostate cancer seen more commonly in older men.
“At the same time, research has helped drive major improvements in treatment over recent years, meaning more men are living longer after a prostate cancer diagnosis.
“That is positive progress, but it also means the number of men living with the disease will continue to grow.”
Ben Lamb, consultant urological and robotic surgeon at Barts Health and UCLH NHS Trusts, and clinical senior lecturer at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, said: “The estimated increase in men living with or after prostate cancer in the UK—from around 500,000 in 2020 to approximately 600,000 now—probably reflects several overlapping trends rather than a single cause.
“First, more men are being diagnosed. Greater public awareness, increased PSA testing among men at risk, wider use of pre-biopsy MRI, and more accurate biopsy pathways are likely to be identifying cancers that might previously have remained undetected for longer.
“Second, men are often being diagnosed earlier and are therefore living for more years with the label of prostate cancer.
“Third, survival for men with advanced disease has improved.
“A genuine rise in the underlying occurrence of prostate cancer is also possible.
“The UK population is ageing, and age is the dominant risk factor for prostate cancer.
“However, the recent growth in the number of men living with the disease is more likely to be driven principally by increased and earlier diagnosis combined with better survival, rather than by a large sudden increase in age-specific biological risk alone.”