Prostate cancer becomes most common cancer diagnosis in England
Prostate cancer becomes most common cancer diagnosis in England
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There were 55,033 diagnoses of prostate cancer in England in 2023 compared with 47,526 diagnoses of breast cancer. Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed in England, surpassing breast cancer for two consecutive years, according to analysis by a leading charity.
In 2023 there were 55,033 prostate cancer diagnoses compared with 47,526 breast cancer diagnoses, according to the Prostate Cancer UK’s analysis of NHS England data. Prostate Cancer UK says the increase in diagnoses and awareness can be partly attributed to its awareness campaign launched with the NHS in 2022, which has led to 3 million men using its online risk checker tool.
More than 14,000 men who should have been diagnosed with the disease and referred to treatment were not due to the pandemic, but by April 2024 this gap had been closed. NHS England’s Rapid Cancer Registration Dataset shows prostate, breast, bowel and lung cancer are the four most common in England, accounting for about 50% of all cases.
The cause of prostate cancer is unknown, but most cases develop in men over 50, with black men having double the risk of developing the disease. It is difficult to diagnose and treat because symptoms do not usually appear until the prostate is large enough to affect the urethra, which leads to an increased need and straining while urinating, and a feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied.
