Prostate cancer screening decision 'disappointing', says Wiltshire patient
UK National Screening Committee says it may cause more harm than good
A Wiltshire man who is living with prostate cancer says he is "disappointed" that there will not be a screening programme for men over 50.
It's after the UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) announced on Friday that it would not be recommending the introduction of a national NHS screening programme for the disease.
Prostate cancer remains the only major cancer without a screening programme in the UK, claiming the lives of over 12,000 men each year.
Mark Johns from Chippenham was diagnosed after his daughter-in-law and neighbour urged him to see a doctor due to a lingering cough.
He said: "There are so many men who are missed in the system and that's not right. And who knows, had there been an earlier screening programme for myself, perhaps I might have been in a curable situation. Today, I find myself in a manageable situation."
He added that his cancer would "almost certainly" have been detected earlier if there had been a screening programme.
"To have a PSA of 2,020 - it wasn't something that popped up overnight. Even if it had been 10 years earlier, 20 years earlier, there may have been an indication."
Mark, who is undergoing treatment to manage his cancer, has since raised more than £3,000 for Prostate Cancer UK by completing their March the Month walking challenge.
He remains passionate about increasing awareness of prostate cancer, particularly among older men.
"I don't know what they would need to help them get it over the line as it were, so that the decision could in fact be turned around.
"The fight won't be over. People will still be pushing forward and pushing and testing."
The UKNSC said screening for prostate cancer with current methods, such as the PSA blood test, could result in unnecessary testing, overtreatment, and complications for men.
In a draft recommendation shared prior to the decision, they noted screening "is likely to cause more harm than good."
While a national programme has not been recommended, organisations like Prostate Cancer UK emphasise the importance of raising awareness about prostate cancer symptoms and the value of men discussing concerns with healthcare professionals.
Prostate Cancer UK offers information, resources, and support for anyone affected by prostate cancer.