Government prostate cancer screening update as 44,000 demand change

The Government has released a significant update regarding prostate cancer and the possibility of introducing a screening programme, beginning with high-risk individuals. The announcement addresses a continuing parliamentary petition which highlights the vital role early diagnosis plays in safeguarding lives.

In a statement published yesterday (February 26), it was confirmed that the UK National Screening Committee has consulted on a draft prostate cancer screening recommendation and will deliver a final decision shortly. Following this, the Government will then determine whether to accept the proposal.

The Department of Health and Social Care explained: “The UK National Screening Committee consulted on a draft prostate cancer screening recommendation and will make a final recommendation soon. The Government will then consider whether to accept it.

“The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) makes recommendations to ministers and the NHS across the four nations of the United Kingdom, based on an assessment of high-quality, peer-reviewed evidence on whether screening for a certain condition would do more good than harm at reasonable cost.

“The UK NSC considered the current diagnostic and treatment pathways and consulted on their findings. The evidence package can be found [here].”

Currently, prostate cancer affects roughly one in eight men across the UK. While it mainly develops in those aged over 50, the condition can emerge at any age, rendering understanding of its warning signs and risk factors essential.

Generally, men experiencing an increased urge to urinate, lower back discomfort, erectile dysfunction or blood in their urine may be sent for a PSA test. This screening measures prostate-specific antigen levels in the blood, and whilst raised PSA doesn’t conclusively confirm cancer, it may warrant further examination.

This could involve a biopsy, MRI scan or rectal examination, although procedures typically differ depending on individual circumstances. Whilst these assessments are not routinely provided by the NHS and fall outside any national screening programme, the Government’s statement arguably suggests this may be reconsidered.

Nonetheless, the Department of Health and Social Care continued: “Screening can do harm, as well as good (benefit). It is also possible for someone to experience both the harms and benefits of screening at the same time. For example, a man may live longer due to their prostate cancer being identified and treated, but also live with serious side effects of treatment.

“The aim of prostate cancer screening would be to detect prostate cancer early to prevent death and reduce suffering from the disease. For men with aggressive and/or advanced prostate cancer, early intervention and treatment can allow them to live longer by preventing prostate cancer death.

“It can also reduce the chances of serious complications such as prostate cancer spreading to other parts of the body. Prostate cancer can spread to the area just outside the prostate (locally advanced or locally invasive cancer), and cause symptoms such as erectile dysfunction, difficulties emptying the bladder and pain. It can also spread further (metastatic cancer), most commonly to the bones and spine, where it can cause severe pain, fractures, or spinal cord compression.”

The department eventually concluded: “The UK NSC will make a final recommendation soon, after which the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care will consider whether to accept and implement the recommendation.”

The petition titled ‘Introduce a screening programme for prostate cancer, starting with high-risk men’ has currently drawn in over 44,000 signatures. Should it reach 100,000, it will be considered for a parliamentary debate.

You can read the petition and its response in full here.

Potential risk factors of prostate cancer

According to the NHS, several people may be at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes the following:

• Men over 50 years old
• Men from a Black ethnic background
• Men who have a history of prostate cancer in their family
• Men who have close relatives who have had breast or ovarian cancer. Sometimes, prostate cancer is caused by the same inherited genes

Further guidance from the NHS has explained: “Speak to a GP if you’re worried about your prostate cancer risk, even if you do not have any symptoms. Symptoms of prostate cancer do not always appear until the cancer has grown or spread.”

Visit the NHS website for more information.

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