Former Prime Minister David Cameron has revealed he was successfully treated for prostate cancer and is now calling for the UK to introduce targeted screening for the disease. The 59-year-old told The Times he wants to "add his name" to those advocating for systematic testing of high-risk men, breaking his usual reluctance to discuss personal health matters.
Cameron's diagnosis came after his wife, Samantha, urged him to get tested following a radio interview with Soho House founder Nick Jones about his own prostate cancer experience. The former Conservative leader underwent a PSA blood test, an MRI scan, and a biopsy that confirmed the cancer. He was treated with focal therapy, which uses electrical pulses to destroy cancer cells, and a follow-up MRI scan in June showed the treatment was successful.
"You always dread hearing those words"
Cameron described the moment of diagnosis to The Times: «You always hope for the best. You have an MRI scan with a few black marks on it. You think, 'Ah, that's probably OK.' But when the biopsy comes back, and it says you have got prostate cancer? You always dread hearing those words. And then literally as they're coming out of the doctor's mouth you're thinking, 'Oh, no, he's going to say it. He's going to say it. Oh God, he said it'.»
The former prime minister acknowledged his "platform" in deciding to speak publicly about his experience. «I want to, as it were, come out. I want to add my name to the long list of people calling for a targeted screening programme,» he told The Times. «I don't particularly like discussing my personal intimate health issues, but I feel I ought to. Let's be honest. Men are not very good at talking about their health. We tend to put things off.»
Critical timing for screening decision
Cameron's announcement comes days after the UK launched the Transform trial, a £42 million project testing promising screening techniques including PSA blood tests, genetic testing, and faster MRI scans. The UK National Screening Committee is meeting this week to decide whether current evidence supports introducing a national screening program.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in UK males, with around 55,000 new cases diagnosed annually and 12,000 deaths each year. Currently, no screening program exists due to concerns about PSA test accuracy and potential overdiagnosis.
Chiara De Biase, director at Prostate Cancer UK, said: "We're glad to hear that David Cameron found his prostate cancer at an early stage and had successful treatment. We thank him for sharing his story and in doing so raising vital awareness of this disease, which is completely curable if found early. But men's lives should not be left to chance."
Cameron told The Times he recognizes the complexity of screening decisions: «I know it's not a slam dunk. There are respectable arguments against a screening programme. But it seems to me that quite a lot of things have changed over the last few years. The circumstances are changing. The arguments are changing, and so it's a really good moment to have another look at this.»
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
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