Fears of thousands more prostate cancer deaths after drop in referrals during pandemic

Laura Donnelly

PROSTATE cancer referrals have dropped by half since the start of lockdown, with 27,000 fewer men checked for the deadly disease, official figures show.

Experts warned that the missing checks during the Covid pandemic mean 3,500 men are now at risk of dying from the condition. Prostate Cancer UK is calling on all men at increased risk of the disease – such as those over 50, those with a history of the disease, and black men, to talk to their GP about whether to have tests which can help to make a diagnosis.

Medics said thousands of men could face early death, because of a lack of access to NHS checks during the pandemic. The number of cases referred between April and June is the lowest for a decade, and 49.5 per cent lower than the same time last year, the NHS figures show. Experts said some men had stayed home for fear of catching Covid, while others struggled to see their GP or struggled to obtain a referral after seeing their family doctor.

Even in June, referrals were still down 46 per cent in London, and more than a third lower than normal in the North West, North East and Yorkshire.

Angela Culhane, the chief executive at Prostate Cancer UK: “We estimate there could be 3,500 men in England with a higher risk prostate cancer which has not yet been diagnosed. If we don’t act now, we could face a future where thousands of men are diagnosed too late, when the cancer has advanced to a stage that cannot be cured.”

The charity is calling for all men with an increased risk of prostate cancer to talk to their GP about PSA tests, which can show changes requiring investigation. Peter Johnson, the NHS national cancer director, said: “45,000 more people were referred for cancer treatment in June compared to the month before, while 85,000 people began cancer treatment during the first wave, with 92 per cent of them starting treatment within two weeks.

“As well as referrals for cancer being maintained during the pandemic, including through GP appointments, the NHS also brought in ‘Covid friendly’ cancer drugs, including enzalutamide for prostate cancer, which enabled people to keep going with treatment safely at home ... so get in touch with your GP to discuss your risk.”