Thousands of men with prostate cancer are being left at increased risk of death because of a scandalous postcode lottery, the Mail can reveal.
To maximise survival chances, the NHS should diagnose the disease and start patients’ treatment within 62 days of them being referred by a doctor.
But hospitals in England met this target in only two-thirds of cases (67 per cent) in January, the latest month for which figures are available.
While some NHS trusts diagnosed and treated every prostate cancer patient on time over that period, others failed to meet the target on a single occasion.
This means 1,559 men started their first treatment late in one month alone, heightening their anxiety and potentially giving their tumour time to spread.
Particularly concerning, is the 435 who waited more than 104 days (almost four months) – the threshold that is supposed to trigger a clinical review.
Prostate cancer charities last night described the variation in care as ‘unacceptable’ and warned it is ‘deeply concerning’ that men are having to wait so long.
The revelations come a day after a landmark poll showed 94 per cent of GPs back the Mail’s campaign to introduce a national prostate cancer screening programme, initially targeted at at high-risk men.
Thousands of men with prostate cancer are being left at increased risk of death because of a scandalous postcode lottery. Pictured: File photo
Analysis by Prostate Cancer Research suggests such a scheme would lead to an extra 775 cases being diagnosed early each year among men aged 45 to 69 who are black, have a family history of the disease, or have a particular genetic mutation.
Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed form of cancer in England, with 55,033 cases identified in 2023, the latest figures show.
Catching prostate cancer early improves the chances of successfully treating the disease, which kills around 10,200 men in England each year.
NHS England says trusts should achieve the 62-day target 85 per cent of the time.
But 96 trusts failed to achieve this in January, according to NHS England’s own figures. One hit it and 23 exceeded it.
Furthermore, nine high-performing trusts achieved a rate of 95 per cent or higher, while eight trusts reported a rate of 33 per cent or lower.
Formula One boss Eddie Jordan, Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman and BBC News presenter Bill Turnbull are among those who have died from prostate cancer in recent years.
Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, comedian Sir Stephen Fry and chef Ken Hom have spoken about their diagnosis to raise awareness of the disease.
Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed form of cancer in England, with 55,033 cases identified in 2023, the latest figures show
David James, director of patient projects and influencing at the charity Prostate Cancer Research, which is backing the Mail’s campaign and wants screening to start from the age of 45, said: ‘The postcode lottery in prostate cancer diagnosis and care is unacceptable.
‘With cases of prostate cancer on the rise, it’s deeply concerning that too many patients are waiting longer than the 62-day standard to be diagnosed and begin treatment.
‘Resources simply aren’t keeping pace with demand.
‘We urgently need targeted investment in the workforce – especially specialist nurses – and in smarter, more efficient systems.
‘That means embracing innovative technologies like AI-assisted MRI and automated triaging tools to speed up the diagnostic pathway and ensure every man receives timely, high-quality care, no matter where he lives.’
Chiara De Biase, director of health services, equity and improvement at the charity Prostate Cancer UK, which also supports the campaign, said: ‘This is an unacceptable situation that’s deeply distressing for men and their loved ones and is further evidence of the postcode lottery impacting men with prostate cancer.
‘We know that if you’re black or from a working class area, you’re more likely to get an incurable prostate cancer diagnosis and less likely to get the best treatments on the NHS.
‘We’re reaching a breaking point, and it needs to be stopped now.
Formula One boss Eddie Jordan (pictured) is among those who have died from prostate cancer in recent years
‘We know that NHS staff are under huge pressure, and Prostate Cancer UK is working closely with doctors and nurses in communities where men face bigger challenges, so that more men have a fairer chance of an earlier diagnosis wherever they live.’
A biopsy can help determine whether a tumour is aggressive and fast-growing or mild and growing so slowly that it is unlikely to pose a risk to life.
Men with slow growing tumours may never need surgery and can often be monitored through regular check-ups in a treatment known as ‘active surveillance’.
Diagnosis and treatment delays may not be the fault of the NHS trust but due to other factors, such as patients being referred to other specialities or patients being on holiday or unable to take time off work.
Some patients also ask for time to think over their choice of treatment before it begins.
Trusts with a 62-day diagnosis and treatment rate of 100 per cent or 0 per cent typically have fewer cases of prostate cancer than those in the middle.
A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘It is unacceptable that prostate cancer patients are waiting too long for diagnosis and treatment, and we are determined to change that.
‘Our National Cancer Plan will transform cancer care, making the UK a world leader in cancer survival by fighting the disease on all fronts, through improving research, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
‘The reforms we are making will see around 120,000 more people referred for urgent cancer checks get a diagnosis within four weeks and start treatment within two months.’
Former prime minister Rishi Sunak (pictured) has argued bringing in screening could save money and prevent needless deaths. Pictured: Mr Sunak at Oxford Biodynamics, a company which offers a prostate cancer blood test for screening
An NHS England spokesperson said: ‘While staff have been working hard to see and treat more people with prostate cancer than ever before and improve 62-day performance year-on-year, we know that some people are still waiting too long and there is more to do to ensure all patients receive high-quality and timely care.
‘That’s why the NHS is working with Cancer Alliances to address variations in access to care, as well as modernising diagnosis through the increased use of mpMRI scans to avoid the need for invasive biopsies.’