Rise in early onset cancer ‘not confined to bowel cancer’ – experts

Natalia Norori, head of data and evidence at Prostate Cancer UK, has urged the government to act after a rise in people getting cancer before the age of 50 is not just confined to bowel cancer.

She said: “Prostate cancer risk increases if you are Black and over 45, have a family history, or if you are over 50. This new data from the World Cancer Research Fund demonstrates the impact of an increase in PSA blood testing in men under 50, as well as advances in how prostate cancer is diagnosed since 2001, such as the introduction of MRI in 2019.

“More men are now aware of and checking their risk with Prostate Cancer UK’s Risk Checker and are making an informed choice, which is hugely positive, as the earlier you find prostate cancer, the easier it is to treat.

“However, prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, and the number of men diagnosed with the disease is projected to rise, with more than one million expected to be living with a prostate cancer diagnosis by the end of the 2030s.

“Addressing this rise must be a priority for the Government. In the meantime, Prostate Cancer UK’s £60m TRANSFORM trial – the biggest screening trial for 20 years – is currently under way and will get us the crucial evidence we need for a national screening programme.”