Edward has joined Prostate Cancer UK at their parliamentary event, attended by former PM Rishi Sunak, MPs across all parties, and external guests, to press for action to drive forward further progress on improving screening and access to PSA testing.
Prostate Cancer UK, and the speakers at the event - including people currently battling prostate cancer who related their experiences - highlighted the opportunities to save more lives through making changes to guidelines on screening and PSA testing. Research shows that some men are more susceptible to prostate cancer risk than others, due to a number of factors, and Prostate Cancer UK are pressing for changes to ensure that GPs can speak to men at the highest risk about their option to have a PSA test, a simple step they argue could potentially save many lives. The UK National Screening Committee, which oversees the guidelines, has already recognised the need to conduct an evidence review, but Prostate Cancer UK expressed concerns the timelines and accountability for this remain unclear.
Edward said: "It was a privilege to hear from those directly affected by prostate cancer at Prostate Cancer UK's parliamentary event, and to hear about the big impact a small change to the screening guidelines could make, potentially saving many lives. Changing the guidelines to enable a GP to raise with men in higher risk groups their option to have a PSA test seems like such a simple change, but an impactful one, so I'm joining with Prostate Cancer UK in calling for the evidence review to be carried out very swiftly, and a clear timeline to be set for action on this important issue."
