When David Cameron walked into his GP’s office in 2024, he wasn’t there for anything serious. But his wife, Samantha Cameron, had other ideas. After hearing Nick Jones, founder of Soho House, talk on the radio about how a simple blood test saved his life, she insisted: “You’re going for a health check-up with your GP, you should ask about this.” That moment—quiet, ordinary, almost mundane—changed everything. By the end of the year, Cameron, 59, had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. No symptoms. No warning. Just a PSA level that didn’t look right.
The Diagnosis That Wasn’t Supposed to Happen
Cameron had never felt unwell. No urinary issues. No pain. No fatigue. That’s the terrifying thing about prostate cancer—it often creeps in silently. He underwent a PSA test, then an MRI, then a biopsy. The results confirmed it: early-stage prostate cancer. What followed wasn’t the brutal chemotherapy or radical surgery many assume. Instead, he opted for focal therapy, a minimally invasive procedure using precisely targeted electric pulses to destroy only the cancerous tissue. He called it “a pretty simple operation there, robotic.” A follow-up MRI in June 2025 showed no signs of recurrence. He’s recovered. He’s healthy. But he’s not staying quiet.Why This Matters Now
The UK National Screening Committee is poised to announce its recommendation on prostate cancer screening in late November 2025. For years, the UK has avoided population-wide PSA testing, fearing overdiagnosis and overtreatment. But new evidence is shifting the tide. Data from the Prostate Testing for Cancer and Treatment (ProtecT) trialLondon suggests targeted screening could slash prostate cancer deaths by up to 27% in high-risk groups. That’s not a small number. It’s 1,400 lives a year.And the disparities are stark. According to Cancer Research UK, prostate cancer affects around 52,300 men annually in the UK. Black men are twice as likely to develop it—and more likely to die from it. Asian men have lower rates, but the reasons remain poorly understood. Obesity also appears linked, though the mechanism is still being studied. The current system—where men over 50 can request a PSA test but aren’t proactively offered one—leaves too many slipping through the cracks.
“I Would Feel Bad If I Didn’t Come Forward”
Cameron’s public disclosure isn’t just personal. It’s political. As a former Prime Minister and now a member of the House of Lords, his voice carries weight. He’s not asking for universal screening. He’s calling for a targeted approach: screening men over 45 with Black heritage, those with a family history of prostate or breast cancer, and those with known genetic mutations like BRCA2. It’s precision medicine applied to public health.“I had a scan. It helped me discover something that was wrong,” he told The Times. “It gave me the chance to deal with it.” He’s now part of a growing chorus—including MPs, oncologists from the Royal Marsden Hospital, and researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research—that argues blanket screening is flawed, but silence is deadly.
The Bigger Picture: A System in Transition
The Telegraph has pushed this issue since January 2025, spotlighting how Black British men are dying at twice the rate of their white peers. Meanwhile, the NHS has quietly expanded access to MRI scans for men with elevated PSA levels—a step toward risk-stratified care. But without a formal screening program, access remains patchy. A man in Manchester might get an MRI within weeks. A man in Hull might wait months—or never get one at all.Doctors aren’t just talking about technology. They’re talking about equity. The current system assumes men know enough to ask. But many don’t. Cultural stigma, lack of awareness, distrust in institutions—these are real barriers. Cameron’s story isn’t just about a test. It’s about breaking the silence.
What Comes Next
The UK National Screening Committee’s final recommendation is expected by December 1, 2025. If they recommend targeted screening, the Department of Health will have to decide whether to fund it. That’s the real hurdle. The cost? Roughly £120 million annually—less than 0.1% of the NHS budget. The payoff? Thousands of lives saved, fewer advanced cases, and lower long-term treatment costs.Meanwhile, Cameron is back at work. He’s attending House of Lords debates. He’s meeting with health ministers. He’s telling his story wherever he can. “I was lucky,” he says. “Too many men aren’t.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is most at risk for prostate cancer in the UK?
Black men are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer compared to white men, and they’re more likely to die from it. Men with a family history—especially if a father or brother was diagnosed before 60—are also at higher risk. Genetic mutations like BRCA2 further increase vulnerability. Age is another factor: 80% of cases occur in men over 65.
Why doesn’t the UK offer routine PSA testing like some other countries?
The UK has avoided universal PSA screening due to concerns about overdiagnosis—catching slow-growing cancers that would never cause harm—and overtreatment, which can lead to incontinence or impotence. But new evidence shows targeted screening for high-risk groups reduces mortality without the same risks. The UK National Screening Committee is now weighing this balance.
What is focal therapy, and how is it different from traditional treatments?
Focal therapy uses precise energy—either electric pulses or ultrasound—to destroy only the tumor, not the entire prostate. Unlike surgery or radiation, it preserves urinary and sexual function in most cases. It’s not for everyone—only suitable for low- to medium-risk, localized cancers—but for eligible patients, it’s a game-changer with fewer side effects and faster recovery.
How effective is early detection for prostate cancer?
When caught early—before it spreads beyond the prostate—the five-year survival rate exceeds 95%, according to Cancer Research UK. That’s higher than for many other cancers. But once it metastasizes, survival drops to around 30%. Early detection through targeted screening could prevent thousands of advanced cases each year.
What’s the timeline for a national screening program in the UK?
The UK National Screening Committee is expected to release its recommendation by December 1, 2025. If approved, implementation could begin as early as April 2026, starting with pilot programs in regions with high Black population density. Full rollout would take 18–24 months, depending on funding and GP training.
What can men do now while waiting for policy changes?
Men over 45, especially those with Black heritage or a family history, should proactively ask their GP for a PSA test. No prescription is needed. The test costs nothing on the NHS. If results are elevated, insist on an MRI scan. Early action saved David Cameron’s life—and it can save yours too.
