Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

CancerConditionsHealth surveillanceOccupational Health

Record prostate cancer screenings post-pandemic

by Nic Paton 24 May 2022
by Nic Paton 24 May 2022 Shutterstock
Shutterstock

After referral figures collapsed during the pandemic lockdowns, there has since been a record number of prostate cancer screenings according to NHS England.

Urgent referrals for urological cancers reached an all-time high in March this year, with 24,331 people checked in just one month, following a campaign launched by the NHS and the charity Prostate Cancer UK in February.

The two joined forces to deliver a six-week campaign from mid-February, urging men to use the charity’s online risk checker in a bid to reduce the shortfall in men starting prostate cancer treatment since the pandemic began.

The latest NHS figures show the campaign had an immediate impact, as urological cancer referrals in March increased by more than a fifth (23%) compared to the previous month and are up by almost one third (30%) compared with the same month last year.

Symptoms of prostate cancer often do not show up during early stages but men who have higher risk are encouraged to come forward for checks.

More than half a million people (550,000) checked their risk of developing the disease online during the six weeks of the campaign with men deemed high risk encouraged to visit their GP to get checked out.

Prostate cancer

Men’s mental health: motivating staff to open up

Putting OH at the heart of the cancer return-to-work ‘journey’

Men putting off seeing a doctor because of pandemic

NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “The NHS in England has seen all-time high levels of referrals for urological cancers but we know there is more to do to catch cancers earlier, which is why we’re investing billions to expand diagnostic and treatment capacity to treat more people sooner, as part of the most ambitious recovery plan in NHS history.

“It can feel daunting confronting issues but talking about cancer can save lives, and it is so important that anyone at higher risk or who has concerns, follows the lead of people like Stephen Fry, Rod Stewart and Bill Turnbull, to get seen and treated as quickly as possible”.

Prostate cancer, one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers, is very treatable if caught early, so it’s vitally important that these men are found quickly before their cancer spreads.

Research suggests treatment at stages 1 and 2 has a near 100% survival rate compared to around 50% at stage 4.

While most men with early prostate cancer won’t have any signs or symptoms of the disease, symptoms to be aware of include needing to pee more frequently, weak flow, and blood in your urine.

Through the NHS and charity campaign, men are encouraged to learn more about their risk via an online risk checker, which is higher in men over 50, black men and men whose father or brother had the disease.

Nic Paton
Nic Paton

Nic Paton is consulting editor of OHW+. One of the country's foremost workplace health journalists, Nic has written for OHW+ and Occupational Health & Wellbeing since 2001, and edited the magazine from 2018.

previous post
Interim advice published on Covid autumn boosters
next post
Tube strike on 6 June to see 4,000 staff walk out

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Warning of half million new cancer cases a...

1 Dec 2023

CPD: OH nursing in South Africa – differences...

1 Dec 2023

How to support employees with prostate cancer

27 Nov 2023

Biggest UK prostate cancer screening trial in decades...

27 Nov 2023

Work-related stress absence still above pre-pandemic levels –...

24 Nov 2023

Working outdoors in the sun fuelling skin cancer...

10 Nov 2023

NHS to offer ‘repurposed’ drug to tackle breast...

10 Nov 2023

Dentistry crisis leading to rising rates of mouth...

10 Nov 2023

Liver disease: NHS mobile screening finds more than...

30 Oct 2023

Cancer and work: Less than half of managers...

26 Oct 2023

  • How to spot and tackle imposter syndrome in the workplace PROMOTED | Half of all UK adults...Read more
  • BetterMe for Business: How to Build Wellness Culture at Work PROMOTED | Ever encountered a...Read more
  • Global growth with simple HR compliance (webinar) WEBINAR | In an increasingly global marketplace...Read more
  • Talent acquisition: How AI can complement a ‘back to basics’ approach PROMOTED | Artificial intelligence is now...Read more
  • What will it mean to be an HR professional in 2024? (webinar) WEBINAR | As we approach 2024...Read more
  • HR Budget Planning for 2024: Preparing your People Strategy PROMOTED | As organisations continue to adapt...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2023

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2023 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today