Cornwall man diagnosed with prostate cancer urges people to get blood tests early

Figures reveal more than 5000 men are diagnosed each year across the south west

Author: Megan PricePublished 29th Jan 2025

A man from Cornwall, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer without any symptoms, is calling for people to get tested early.

Data reveals prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK and across Cornwall and the South West, with 5036 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, according to the latest data. More than 1 in 5 of these men are diagnosed when their disease has spread and can't be cured.

The UK’s leading men’s health charity also reveals today that prostate cancer cases rose by a quarter (25%) between 2019 and 2023.

Barry Campbell, 73, Cornwall, had no symptoms of prostate cancer and even when prompted by a colleague who had the disease, to have a PSA blood test, he refused. Over the Christmas period in 2022 Barry's father-in-law was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate for which he had surgery.

Barry attended the doctor about a week later over an unrelated matter and at that point, asked if he could have a PSA blood test.

Barry told us: "The tests are simple, it's a simple blood test. From there on it's quite straight forward. It's nothing to worry about, there's no pain involved, and you make a decision on what kind of treatment you want."

The doctor stated that his prostate was slightly enlarged and a PSA blood test followed which detected something. Barry was diagnosed with stage three cancer. He had surgery to remove the prostate in April 2023.

Barry added: "If I hadn't had asked, I wouldn't have had the diagnosis 2 by now and don't know how far along the cancer scale I would have got to.

"Since I've had it, I hadn't realised how many people have gone through the same process, got diagnosed and have been treated like me."

Despite the huge increase in prostate cancer cases, there is still no national screening programme for the disease that affects 1 in 8 men. Also, GPs are currently prevented by NHS guidelines, set by the Government, from proactively talking to men who have the highest risk of getting prostate cancer about their risk and the option to get a simple PSA blood test.

As prostate cancer often causes no symptoms in its earlier stages, knowing your risk is vitally important, and right now men are being left in the dark.

Prostate Cancer UK is calling on the Government to change these outdated NHS guidelines so that GPs can start having lifesaving conversations with men and is inviting supporters to sign a letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

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