Website of the Department of Health

Introduction by Professor Mike Richards, National Cancer Director

Prostate cancer poses major challenges in developed countries. In England it is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and the second most common cause of death from cancer in men (after lung cancer).

The reported number of new cases is rising rapidly (over 35% in the last 5 years). Much of this is due to the more widespread use of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing. Ageing of the population is another factor as prostate cancer is more common in older men. The incidence is set to rise further in coming years.

Five years ago major concerns were expressed by clinicians, charities and the media that the Department of Health (DH) and the National Health Service (NHS) were not taking sufficient action on prostate cancer. In response to this the DH published the NHS Prostate Cancer Programme in September 2000 (shortly before the NHS Cancer Plan was published).

The NHS Prostate Cancer Programme set out the government's commitmentÏ To improve the early detection of prostate cancer.Ï To improve treatment and care for patients with prostate cancer.Ï To enhance research into prostate cancer in the UK.

Major strides have been taken in each of these areas over the past 4 years.Ï The Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme has been established to enable men to make informed choices about PSA testing and to ensure that measurement of PSA is standardised between laboratories.

Ï The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance on improving outcomes for patients with urological cancers (including prostate cancer). This emphasises the importance of patients being managed by specialist teams who have an adequate throughput of patients. Cancer networks have developed action plans to ensure this guidance is implemented.

Ï The Cancer Services Collaborative has been working with urology teams across the country to improve access to care and to streamline the delivery of services.

Ï Research into prostate cancer has been given a major boost with new funding and the establishment of two leading-edge prostate cancer research collaboratives.

However, everyone concerned with prostate cancer is aware that much more needs to be done. That is why the Department of Health agreed to the suggestion put forward by the Prostate Cancer Charter for Action to establish a Prostate Cancer Advisory Group (PCAG). This group brings together charities, patient groups, clinicians, researchers and the Department of Health. PCAG is helping to keep the spotlight on prostate cancer and to identify areas where further action may be needed.

This report highlights progress that has been made over the past four years and sets out work in progress. The report acknowledges the scale of the challenge ahead. I am extremely grateful to members of the advisory group for working with the Department of Health to prepare this report - an excellent example of partnership working. I am also, as always, very grateful for the hard work of staff across the NHS who are helping to make the NHS Prostate Cancer Programme and the NHS Cancer Plan a reality.

Professor Mike Richards
National Cancer Director/Chair, Prostate Cancer Advisory Group

• Download Making progress on prostate cancer (PDF, 1076K)