In the UK, about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Prostate cancer isn’t linked to any clear preventable causes but risk does increase with age, ethnicity (black men) and family history. (See 'who is at highest risk of prostate cancer').

We are working with our partners to improve the earlier identification of prostate cancer by raising awareness of prostate cancer risk factors and supporting rapid access to Prostate Specific Antigen Testing (PSA) and assessment.

an image announcing the cancer alliance is winners of the HSJ Partnership Awards `Most Effective Contribution to Clinical Redesign' categoryIn August 2022, we piloted the Targeted Prostate Health Check with NHS partner and virtual hospital provider Medefer. The new service identifies and offer non-invasive prostate tests to eligible males. In March 2023, the pilot won the Most Effective Contribution to Clinical Redesign in the HSJ Partnership Awards. 

The Targeted Prostate Health Check uses case finding to search GP records and identify males with risk factors for prostate cancer, based on age, ethnicity, and family history. Around 1,550 men in the Guildford area were invited to complete a survey about their risk factors and eligible males were then invited for a PSA test and urine test at local community clinics.  

  • Prof Langley quote for website.png1,549 GP text messages sent
  • 498 went on to have a PSA test
  • 12 asymptomatic men had a “clinically significant cancer” and are now being treated

Next steps for 2023/24:

The Targeted Prostate Health Check will be extended within the Guildford area and rolled out to the Care Collaborative Redhill Primary Care Network and PCNs within the Frimley area.

Click here to learn more about the HSJ Partnership award win for the Targeted Prostate Health Check
Back to Prevention & early diagnosis

Who is at highest risk of prostate cancer?

  • Lifetime risk for any man is 1:8
  • Lifetime risk for black men is 1:4
  • Men with family history of prostate cancer in first degree relative (2.5 times more likely)
  • Men with a family history of prostate cancer in a second-degree relative (2 times more likely).The risk is higher if a relative was diagnosed under the age of 60 or if he has more than one relative with prostate cancer
  • Men with a mother or sister who has had breast cancer, especially if diagnosed under the aged of 60 and had mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes (up to 20% increase over lifetime risk)
  • Increasing age: 99% of diagnosed men are over 50 with an average age of diagnosis between 65 and 69 years old.
  • Source: Cancer Research UK and Prostate Cancer UK