Chloe Smith MP urges men to stay alert to male cancers, welcomes support for early diagnosis

Member of Parliament for Norwich North, Chloe Smith, today called for greater awareness of male cancers and urged men who are concerned to get checked by their doctor.

One third of men diagnosed with prostate cancer will lose their lives to the disease. Although there is no national screening programme for prostate cancer, men who are worried about their health should make an appointment with their GP.

Chloe recently became a patron of the Blue Ribbon Foundation, founded by Mel Lacey, a prostate cancer survivor. Mel’s own experience serves as a stark reminder of why men must stay alert to their health and seek medical advice if they are concerned. Worried about his own health, Mel asked his GP to perform a prostate screen which led to his referral to a specialist who performed a biopsy. When the result came back with the diagnosis of prostate cancer, Mel was told it had been caught in the nick of time.

Chloe today urged men to be vigilant about their health and to ask their GP for tests if they are worried, and revealed the latest work undertaken by the Department of Health.

Chloe comments:

“Mel’s story shows just how important it is for men to be alert when it comes to their health. I welcome the action taken by Government so far on early diagnosis but it remains vitally important that men are aware of the early symptoms of male cancers.

“I would urge all men who are concerned about prostate cancer, or other male cancers, to make an appointment with their GP and ask for an examination.”

Chloe has obtained the latest information on the Department of Health’s work in this area, through a letter on behalf constituents.

The UK National Screening Committee regularly advises the Government on the latest scientific evidence and based upon their recommendations, the Department of Health is now working on three areas to improve the early detection rate of male cancers:

• The Sheffield School of Health and Related Research is assessing the benefits of screening high risk groups, particularly men of black-African or black-Caribbean origin and men with a family history of prostate cancer;


• Since 2002, men have been entitled to a free PSA test through the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme. The Programme’s Reference Group will now be considering how to work better with GPs in offering the tests; and


• The Prostate Cancer Advisory Group is looking to increase awareness about the availability of the tests to men across the UK.

Early diagnosis is a key part of the strategy as laid out in the Government’s Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer report. Ministers are acutely aware that early diagnosis leads to earlier treatment and a higher chance of success. Over the course of the spending review period, £450 million will be spent on improving early diagnosis to:

• Give GPs increased access to key diagnostic tests;


• Allow for increased testing and treatment costs in secondary care;


• Support campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and seeking medical advice; and


• Support GPs to diagnose cancer earlier, including consultation on when to offer diagnostic tests.