This is now the most prevalent cancer in the UK

Health & Fitness
20 Jan 2026 • 4:05 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Prostate cancer has become the most prevalent cancer across the UK, with 64,425 diagnoses in 2022, surpassing breast cancer.
  • This marks a significant 24 per cent increase in diagnoses from the previous year.
  • Prostate Cancer UK is advocating for wider screening using the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test and is conducting a major clinical trial into combined diagnostic methods.
  • The UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) advised against routine population-wide PSA screening, arguing it 'is likely to cause more harm than good', a decision criticised by several public figures.
  • The charity highlights significant disparities in diagnosis based on deprivation and region, and contends that “outdated” NHS guidelines prevent GPs from proactively engaging with high-risk men.

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