What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men in the UK, with approximately 55,000 new diagnoses annually.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located just below the bladder within the pelvis. It encircles the urethra, the tube responsible for carrying urine out of the body through the penis.
Prostate cancer involves abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth in the prostate gland. This cancer often develops slowly and may not present any signs or symptoms for many years. Some individuals may never experience problems from the disease. However, in other cases, prostate cancer can be aggressive and potentially fatal.
Early detection of prostate cancer offers the best chance for successful treatment.
How common is prostate cancer?
One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. For black men, this risk doubles to one in four.
According to Cancer Research UK, there are about 12,200 deaths from prostate cancer annually. The disease is most prevalent in older men, particularly those over 75 years of age. Cases in men under 50 are rare.
Risk increases if a close relative—such as a father, brother, grandfather, or uncle—has had prostate cancer.
What symptoms should people check for?
Symptoms associated with prostate cancer can also be caused by other conditions. It is important to consult a doctor if you notice any changes.
Prostate Cancer UK offers a 30-second online risk checker. Individuals who believe they are at higher risk should speak with their general practitioner (GP).
Is there a test for prostate cancer?
There is no single definitive diagnostic test for prostate cancer. Diagnosis is based on a combination of assessments, which may include a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, imaging scans, and a biopsy where a small tissue sample is examined in a laboratory.
A raised PSA level does not necessarily indicate cancer, as it can also increase due to infections or other non-cancerous conditions. Some men with elevated PSA may have prostate cancer that would not have caused symptoms or required treatment.
Men over 50 can request a PSA blood test from their GP. The GP will explain the potential benefits and risks of testing.
If you choose to undergo a PSA test, it is advised to avoid sexual activity and vigorous exercise, such as cycling, for two days prior, as these can affect the results.
Medical professionals are also exploring whether combining MRI scans with PSA testing could improve diagnostic accuracy.
Will there be a prostate screening programme?
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the UK without an established screening programme.
Advocates, including former track cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, who has publicly disclosed that his prostate cancer is terminal, have called for regular testing for high-risk groups.
In May 2026, UK ministers endorsed a recommendation from the National Screening Committee that only a small subset of high-risk men should be eligible for routine prostate cancer screening.
This group includes men with a BRCA2 gene variant and those with a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or prostate cancer. The BRCA2 gene plays a role in DNA repair, and certain mutations are linked to increased incidence and severity of cancers.
The committee advises that these men, numbering a few thousand annually, should be invited for PSA blood tests every two years between ages 45 and 61.
Some men in this group are already receiving informal screening through NHS genetics clinics due to their family history.
The committee noted that screening, which involves blood tests followed by prostate scans and biopsies, can miss aggressive cancers and detect cancers that would not require treatment.
They concluded that the small number of lives saved by screening would be outweighed by the harms caused by unnecessary treatment, which can result in side effects such as loss of bladder control.
Although routine screening is not offered to all, tens of thousands of black men will be invited to participate in research aimed at improving prostate cancer testing methods.
The government has announced funding for the TRANSFORM trial, which will offer all black men aged 45 to 74 the opportunity to participate.
Prostate Cancer UK, a charity that has long advocated for the inclusion of black men in screening programmes, welcomed this initiative as
"a truly historic moment".
How is prostate cancer treated?
Treatment options vary, and doctors will recommend the most appropriate approach based on individual cases.
If the cancer is detected at an early stage, is not causing symptoms, and is growing slowly, active surveillance may be an option.
Some prostate cancers can be cured through surgery or radiotherapy.
Hormone therapy may be used to slow the progression of the disease.
Other treatments include cryotherapy, which destroys cancer cells using extreme cold, and high-intensity focused ultrasound.
