One diagnosis every 8 minutes: Macmillan reports record UK prostate cancer rates

Each year in the UK, more than 68,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, amounting to one new diagnosis every eight minutes, according to Macmillan Cancer Support. Since 2020, the number of men living with the disease has increased by 100,000, with the charity estimating there are now around 600,000 men in the UK with prostate cancer.

This represents the most common type of cancer diagnosed in the country. Dr Anthony Cunliffe, Macmillan Cancer Support's lead medical adviser, cautioned that misconceptions about prostate cancer could deter men from seeking medical attention. Many people mistakenly believe that feeling well automatically rules out the possibility of prostate cancer.

However, in its early stages, the disease may not present any symptoms, making regular check-ups with a GP crucial. Symptoms typically arise when the cancerous growth is large enough to put pressure on the urethra, the tube that transports urine. Although prostate cancer generally affects men over 50, it can also develop earlier in certain demographics, such as black men and those with a family history of the disease.

In recent years, the UK National Screening Committee has advised against routine prostate cancer screening for all men due to the potential for more harm than benefit. Nevertheless, the committee recommended screening for a select few thousand high-risk men carrying a specific gene mutation. In response to these findings, officials are planning to expand a screening trial, making it available to all eligible black men.

Cunliffe emphasized that the growing prevalence of prostate cancer can largely be attributed to an aging and expanding population.