One in five men with prostate cancer in NI diagnosed too late for cure

Prostate Cancer UK warns that Northern Ireland is one of several UK regions being left behind in a cancer ‘postcode lottery’, as the latest data shows huge variation in the likelihood of patients being diagnosed after their cancer has spread beyond the prostate and become incurable.

In Northern Ireland, one in five (20%) men with prostate cancer are diagnosed with metastatic disease, compared to just one in eight (12.5%) in London. Scotland, Wales, and the North and Midlands of England, are also shown to be badly affected. Overall, over 200 (226) men are diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer every year in Northern Ireland.

Prostate Cancer UK is calling for action to tackle these health inequalities - particularly in Northern Ireland and other badly-hit regions – by encouraging men across the country to use its 30-second online risk checker to help them understand their risk and what they can do about it.

Laura Kerby, chief executive at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “This postcode lottery for cancer diagnosis simply isn’t fair, and the picture in Northern Ireland is worrying. Every man should get an equal chance of a cure, which is only possible if his cancer is caught early.

“Unfortunately, early prostate cancer usually doesn’t have any symptoms, which is why men need to be aware of their risk and should take our online risk checker to find out more. If you’re at higher risk – which includes all men over 50 – you're entitled to a free PSA blood test from your GP. Because of their higher risk, we strongly recommend that black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer should speak to their GP from the age of 45.”

Prostate cancer diagnosis in the UK was badly affected by the pandemic, which saw an estimated 14,000 fewer men diagnosed as a result. This led Prostate Cancer UK and the NHS to launch a joint campaign in February last year to find those men who had not come forward.