Theresa May set to pledge £75million for prostate cancer research to tackle killer disease
THERESA May will spearhead a new £75million prostate cancer research drive to fight the killer disease - expected to become the country’s most common cancer by 2030.
The PM declared men must be treated “earlier and faster”.
On a hospital visit in Cambridgeshire, she will set out new plans to recruit 40,000 men into research studies to find new treatments and early diagnosis.
But she declared: “I know we can do more.”
The new clinical studies will target high risk men over 50, those with a family history of the disease, black men and the overweight.
During the visit Mrs May will also discuss long-term funding plans for the NHS with hospital staff.
It was recently announced that Government would provide a long-term plan for the health service in England later this year, the year which also sees the 70th anniversary of the health service.
Ahead of the visit, Mrs May said: “Too many people endure the loss of a loved one because cancer diagnosis comes too late in the day.
“Our cancer treatments are world class and survival rates are at a record high, but prostate cancer still claims thousands of lives every year.
“I know we can do more. That’s why I am setting out new plans to help thousands of men get treated earlier and faster.”
She added: “Now in its 70th year, our NHS has a bright future, since last November, we have already committed £10 billion in new funding, including a new pay deal for one million NHS workers.
“In fact, as part of our balanced approach to managing the economy we have increased spending on the health service every year since 2010.
“But I’m clear the way to secure the NHS’s future is having a long-term plan, with sustainable multi-year funding.
“To inform this, I’ll be meeting doctors, nurses and other NHS staff today to understand the challenges they face and discuss how we can effectively meet the demands of the future.”
Prostate cancer is now the third most common cause of cancer deaths in Britain and the most common for men.
Around one in eight men will get it at some point with 47,000 men being struck down every year and 11,800 losing their lives.
It often goes unnoticed because there are no symptoms until a growth is big enough to put pressure on the urethra - forcing men to urinate more often - often at night.
Cases have tripled in the last four decades.
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Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt added: “The NHS is a world leader in fighting cancer and survival rates are at record highs but there is still more to do, this research will ensure that many more lives are saved.”
Dr Iain Frame, director of research at the charity Prostate Cancer UK welcomed the cash boost. He said: “With increased research investment used wisely, over the next few years we can turn this around and make prostate cancer a disease men no longer need to fear.
“This announcement shows a very welcome and positive commitment from the Government to play a key role in getting men the early and accurate diagnosis and treatments for prostate cancer they deserve.
“It at last shows recognition of what a huge issue prostate cancer is and the focus needed to stop it being a killer.”
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