A fifth of prostate cancer patients at Wigan's hospitals diagnosed late

Prostate Cancer Research has found many NHS trusts across the country lack key diagnostic techniques and treatments, meaning many people are only getting diagnosed when the disease has already spread.

Early diagnosis is crucial to survival as just a third of patients live for five years or more once the cancer spreads beyond the prostate.

Wigan health chiefs say it is important that patients know the symptoms and then seek medical advice promptly if they experience them.

Charities have urged eligible men to seek free screening tests for the disease, which kills thousands in the UK each year.

The figures show 21 per cent of people with prostate cancer were diagnosed at an advanced stage at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) in 2022 – more than the average of 17 per cent in England.

Analysis suggests more than 2,600 lives could be saved across the country if late diagnosis was cut to five per cent – the lowest level achieved by a hospital trust – across the board.

There were also significant regional disparities, with 16 out of the 20 trusts with the highest rate of late diagnosis located in the north, while 13 of the 20 best performing ones were in the south.

Oliver Kemp, chief executive of Prostate Cancer Research, said: “We are seriously concerned that some parts of the UK don’t have the same level of equipment or testing capacity as others.

“This is now being borne out with a significant increase in late-stage cancers being diagnosed in these areas.

“Patients know all too well that these cancers come with much lower chances of living for five years or more.”

Diagnostics can include biopsies and different type of scans all of which were available from WWL or other centres in the area last year.

Overall, there were more options for both diagnostics and treatments in the south of England. Trusts there also offered more support services, such as psychological and genetic counselling.

Earlier this year Prostate Cancer UK warned 10,000 men were diagnosed too late for a cure each year.

However, their analysis of the National Prostate Cancer Audit showed English regions had begun to tackle the pandemic backlog and referrals were above pre-pandemic levels in 2022.

A spokesperson for WWL said: “Early-stage diagnosis is largely dependent on patients being aware of risk, presenting early and there being a suitable screening programme in place. As a Trust we would advocate patients being well informed and able to seek early screening in primary care and referral onto specialist urology services where appropriate.”

For diagnosis of urology cancers, WWL is one of the two best performing Trusts in Greater Manchester:

• 62 day target (from referral to treatment)

• 14 day target (from referral to first seen - which is now an obsolete target from October onwards)

• 28 day target (Faster Diagnosis Standard) (informing patient of cancer/non cancer diagnosis by day 28 of the pathway)

Laura Kerby, chief executive at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Unfortunately, early prostate cancer usually doesn’t have any symptoms, which is why men need to be aware of their risk and should take our online risk checker to find out more.

“If you’re at higher risk – which includes all men over 50 – you're entitled to a free PSA blood test from your GP.

“Because of their higher risk, we strongly recommend that black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer should speak to their GP from the age of 45.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The UK National Screening Committee is currently reviewing six prostate cancer screening proposals submitted during its annual call for topics.

“These include one on MRI scans as well as targeted proposals for men at higher risk due to factors such as ethnicity and family history. Recommendations will then be made on how best to take them forward.”