In November 2024 the government finally committed to the UK’s first-ever men’s health strategy, after years of campaigning from men’s rights groups and healthcare professionals. The strategy will address the biggest health challenges faced by men, including heart disease, strokes, depression and suicide, and prostate cancer.
Men in the UK die on average four years earlier than women, and more often die from preventable or treatable diseases.
Speaking at the announcement during a Men’s Health Summit held with Movember, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “We’re seeing mental ill health on the rise, and the shocking fact that suicide is the biggest killer for men under the age of 50. Preventable killers like heart disease and prostate cancer are being caught far too late.”
He added: “Just as we are determined to end the injustices women face in healthcare, we won’t shy away from the need to focus on men’s health too. This government will publish a men’s health strategy to tackle these problems head on.”
How can prostate cancer rates be reduced?
One the most common forms of male cancers is prostate cancer: around one in eight men will get it at some point during their lifetime. It is a highly treatable condition if caught in the early stages, and in some cases it may just require careful monitoring rather than medical intervention.
However, many men delay seeking advice for symptoms until the cancer is more advanced, making it much more difficult to treat. Some of the common signs of prostate cancer include frequent or painful urination; blood in urine or semen; pain or discomfort in the pelvic area, and difficulty getting or maintaining an erection (ED).
Not all of these symptoms definitely mean that a man has prostate cancer, and in many cases they will be caused by other issues, such as a benign enlargement of the prostate, which is very common in middle aged and older men.
ED can be caused by several other health problems, including heart disease; diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and depression or anxiety. That’s why it’s essential to always visit a GP for ED that lasts for three months or more.
If prostate cancer or another health condition is ruled out, the GP may suggest making some lifestyle changes, such as drinking less, quitting smoking, getting more exercise and losing weight. ED can also successfully be treated with medication such as tadalafil, which is cheap to buy online.
Will the men’s health strategy include a national prostate cancer screening policy?
One of the key issues that men’s rights groups have campaigned for is a national prostate screening programme, equivalent to national screening programmes for women for breast and cervical cancer.
The standard test for prostate cancer is a blood test called a PSA test, which is currently only available to men over the age of 50 if they request one from their GP. However, many men do not realise that they have the right to do this.
Currently, the National Screening Committee (NSC) does not recommend routine PSA testing for men, on the grounds that the test can be unreliable, and men may undergo unnecessary treatment. However, campaigners argue that any drawbacks would be outweighed by the benefits of many more men getting timely treatment for prostate cancer.
Speaking at a committee meeting about the issue on 6 February, an NSC spokesperson said: ‘Prostate cancer guidance and potential screening are high priorities but require robust evidence and careful consideration of assumptions. The UK NSC is actively engaging in discussions and reviewing emerging data.’
In response to a parliamentary question on the issue, health minister Andrew Gwynne said they were ‘looking at the issue carefully’.
He added: ‘According to the current guidance, screening for prostate cancer is not recommended in the UK because of the inaccuracy of the current best test for prostate-specific antigen. Indeed, it could actually harm men, as some might be diagnosed with a cancer that would not have caused them problems during their lives.’
Prostate Cancer UK have said that GPs should do more to make the most high risk groups aware of the symptoms of the disease, including black men and those over the age of 45, or with a family history of prostate cancer.
Recent Comments