Wes Streeting’s order to review prostate cancer screening guidance could not come at a more important time (Report, 5 November). Prostate cancer is the second-most deadly cancer among men. High-risk groups, including those with a family history and black men, are twice as likely to die from it. The existing “informed choice” system, which requires men to request testing, is failing. As a result, too many are being diagnosed late – as Chris Hoy was – which drastically reduces their chances of survival.
A screening programme for high-risk groups could reverse the rise in late-stage diagnoses and deaths. We also have data to prove that, for these groups, the advantages of screening and subsequent treatment outweigh the risks of overtreatment by a factor of four. A national screening programme would move the UK from being one of the worst performers on prostate cancer in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to one of the best.
