Today’s decision from the Health Secretary on prostate cancer screening is a missed opportunity - too timid, too slow, and lacking the bold ambition that we so desperately wanted to see.
As I set out last week, I fundamentally disagree with the National Screening Committee’s advice on a future screening programme for prostate cancer, which is far too narrow. I strongly believe that if we are really to get on top of prostate cancer - the most common cancer in British men - then a proper, targeted screening programme for all those at higher risk is needed… and needed now.
I welcome expanded provision of focal therapy, which I benefited from last year with my own cancer; this must be an urgent priority to make available across the NHS. And the recognition that more work is needed to screen at risk groups, such as black men, is important.
But this was an opportunity for bold, decisive, life-saving action - action that would help save the heartache of too many families losing a loved-one to this disease. That, sadly, has been missed. We will continue the campaign to urge the Government to go further, faster and put in place a progressive policy that includes a proper screening programme for the most at-risk men.