Calls for Urgent Change in PSA Testing Guidelines
There is no time to lose in overhauling NHS guidelines to detect early prostate cancer as experts warn that outdated policies are widening the gap between wealthy and poorer mens survival rates. Delays in prostate cancer diagnosis can prove fatal.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in England, with 55,000 men diagnosed annually. However, current NHS guidelines, which date back to 2002, prevent doctors from actively offering PSA tests as simple blood test that can detect the disease early. Instead, men must request the test themselves.
Campaigners argue that this system disproportionately affects men in deprived areas, who are 29% more likely to be diagnosed at a late stage, making the disease much harder to treat.
Why Middle-Class Men Have Higher Survival Rates
Dr Matthew Hobbs, Director of Research at Prostate Cancer UK, explained that men from wealthier backgrounds are more likely to request PSA tests due to greater awareness and better access to GPs. In contrast, men in poorer communities, particularly those in manual jobs, are less likely to know about their prostate cancer risk or ask for a PSA test.
At the moment, men have to go to their GP and initiate that conversation about getting a PSA test. Those who are well-informed and live in areas where they can easily access a GP are much more likely to do so. That is at the heart of the disparity.
Wealthier men, particularly those in London and the South East, are also more likely to have private medical insurance, which offers routine PSA tests as part of standard check-ups. Many men diagnosed early report discovering their cancer through private health screenings.
How a PSA Test Could Save Lives
A PSA test measures the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood, which may indicate prostate cancer. If caught early, nearly 100% of men survive the disease. However, if diagnosed after it has spread, survival rates plummet to just 50%.
Symptoms of prostate cancer include:
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Difficulty urinating or weak flow
- Blood in urine or semen
- Erectile dysfunction
Despite its potential to save lives, the PSA test has not been widely adopted due to concerns over overdiagnosis. However, new MRI diagnostic techniques now reduce the risks of unnecessary treatments, making PSA testing more reliable.
Regional and Racial Disparities in Prostate Cancer Survival
Prostate cancer survival rates vary drastically across the UK.
- In London, only 12% of cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage.
- In Scotland, this figure rises to 35%, meaning many men are given a terminal diagnosis.
- Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer compared to white men.
Sir Chris Hoy, the former Olympic cyclist, who was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer at age 48, has called for an urgent change in NHS guidelines, saying it’s no-brainer offer routine PSA tests to high-risk men over 45.
A National Screening Programme Underway?
The UK’s National Screening Committee is reviewing prostate cancer guidelines this year, with a trial underway to develop the first-ever national screening programme.
Dr Hobbs stressed:
We speak to men who were told NOT to have a PSA test at 50 or 55. Then at 60 or 65, they are diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer. Had they had the PSA test earlier, they could have been cured.â€
Campaigners are urging the NHS to update its guidelines, allowing GPs to actively offer PSA tests to men at high risk, including:
- Men over 45
- Those with a family history of prostate cancer
- Black men, who are at higher risk
Delayed Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Claims
A delayed prostate cancer diagnosis can be life-threatening, leaving men with fewer treatment options and a worse prognosis. Those who have suffered medical negligence due to GPs failing to offer PSA tests may be entitled to compensation.
For more information on prostate cancer misdiagnosis and medical negligence claims, visit Hutcheon Law.
The Time for Change Is Now
With thousands of men at risk, the NHS must act quickly to update prostate cancer screening guidelines. Prostate cancer is treatable if caught early but under the current system, too many men from disadvantaged backgrounds are being diagnosed too late.
Offering PSA tests to high-risk men aged 45+ could save thousands of lives.
For more updates, read the original article on The Times.
