Rishi Sunak has urged the UK Government not to abandon plans for a national prostate cancer screening programme, warning that any delay in implementation will “undoubtedly cost lives.” The Prime Minister’s intervention comes amid reports that the UK National Screening Committee, which advises the Government on such matters, is leaning towards rejecting proposals for routine NHS prostate cancer tests targeted at men most at risk.

The screening tests in question aim to detect early signs of prostate cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in England, with over 58,000 cases identified in the past year alone. A source close to the committee indicated to The Mail on Sunday that the decision to shelve the programme may be based on concerns over cost-effectiveness. However, Mr Sunak challenged this view, insisting that the evidence increasingly supports the feasibility and life-saving potential of a targeted screening scheme.

“The evidence is increasingly clear that a targeted screening programme is deliverable and would save lives,” Sunak said in a rare public statement on the matter. “Now is the time to implement a targeted screening programme for the most common cancer among British men. Delay will undoubtedly cost lives.”

This call is aligned with Sunak’s ongoing advocacy for prostate cancer awareness and early detection, which has included support for community testing events and collaboration with research organisations. Earlier this year, Sunak backed an initiative by the Darlington Lions Club to encourage men to undergo free blood tests for early detection, emphasising that about 12,000 men die annually from prostate cancer in the UK. He also responded to findings from Prostate Cancer Research UK, which highlight the benefits of increased screening for high-risk groups and the potential for NHS cost savings when cancer is caught early.

Prostate Cancer UK described the notion of abandoning the screening plans as “a deep disappointment.” Its chief executive, Laura Kerby, expressed concern that shelving the programme would be a blow to the many men and families who have campaigned for improved screening options. The charity launched the ambitious £42 million TRANSFORM trial in late 2023, partially government-funded, to establish the most effective screening methods and to address diagnostic inequalities, particularly among Black men who face higher risks.

While there remains no national prostate cancer screening programme in England, this is largely due to the limitations of the current PSA blood test. Cancer Research UK notes that the PSA test can miss some cancers and falsely indicate cancer when none is present, leading to overdiagnosis and potentially unnecessary treatment. Research is ongoing to develop more reliable tests. For instance, the innovative EpiSwitch PSE test, supported by Prostate Cancer Research UK, boasts 94% accuracy and could dramatically improve the detection landscape.

Public figures such as Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy and actor Sir Stephen Fry, both prostate cancer survivors, have backed the campaign for national screening, underscoring the disease’s stealth and severity. Sir Stephen described the potential shelving of plans as a “crushing blow,” noting that his own diagnosis was unexpected and aggressive, reinforcing the need for systematic early detection rather than reliance on luck.

The Department of Health and Social Care has reiterated that any decision must be evidence-led but confirmed the Government's aspiration to implement a safe and effective screening programme, recognising the potential to save thousands of lives.

The National Screening Committee is expected to reconvene soon to discuss the latest proposals. With public support mounting and scientific advancements on the horizon, the debate over a national prostate cancer screening programme remains a critical issue in public health policy.

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Source: Noah Wire Services