Black men are more likely to get diagnosed with prostate cancer at a later stage due to current NHS guidelines. New data from the National Prostate Cancer Audit (NPCA) found that while Black men are twice as prone to develop prostate cancer than other men, they are also more likely to receive a cancer diagnosis later at stages 3 and 4 in comparison to white men. Current NHS guidance prevents GPs from raising awareness to patients about the possibility of prostate cancer if symptoms aren’t immediately present, which could be harmful to patients who are especially prone.
- Record numbers of early-stage cancers diagnosed, as ‘more cancers than ever’ are being detected
- Sir Chris Hoy calls for lowering prostate cancer screening age
- One in four black men refused prostate cancer tests by their GP
‘The disparity that we can see from this data is shocking, and deeply disappointing,’ said Professor Frank Chinegwundoh, Consultant Urologist at Bart’s Health NHS Trust. ‘This is a consequence of current NHS guidelines; these guidelines treat all men the same, regardless of the fact that some individuals – Black men in this instance – have higher than average risk of prostate cancer.’
A change in NHS guidelines could help save lives as Black men are also less likely to receive treatment. Despite the likelihood that 1 in 4 Black men will get prostate cancer, the audit found that Black men in their 60’s who receive a late diagnosis are also 14% less likely to receive NICE approved treatment. To meet the Government’s target to diagnose 75% of cancers in the early stages by 2028, campaigners have called for a change in NHS guidelines to begin conversations with especially prone patients to increase numbers of earlier diagnoses.
‘We can't change the fact that Black men are at highest risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, but we can change the fact that they are dying twice as much from a cancer that is treatable if caught early,’ said Keith Morgan, Associate Director of Black Health Equity at Prostate Cancer UK. ‘That's why we’re redoubling our urgent call for the Government to overhaul these outdated NHS guidelines and allow GPs to start conversations about the option of PSA testing with men at the highest risk of prostate cancer.’