Prostate cancer checks soar after Sir Chris Hoy reveals diagnosis
The six-time Olympic cycling gold medallist was told in 2023 that he was terminally ill with cancer that originated in his prostate, and shared his diagnosis publicly last year.
Despite a family history of prostate cancer – which also affected his father and grandfather – Sir Chris was never offered the PSA test that could have detected it.
New NHS data show almost 5,000 extra men have been referred for urological cancer in the six months after Sir Chris, 49, spoke out, a trend described by experts as 'staggering'.
The figures, from October 2024 to March 2025, show 138,734 men were given an urgent referral for urological cancers, with prostate cancer the main form of disease. This amounts to an extra 4,962 cases compared with the same six-month period in 2023-24.
Separate data show a huge increase in the number of men with a family history of prostate cancer who have assessed their own risk. The number of men with such a history who have used an online risk checker to assess their chances of the disease rose by 77 per cent over the period.
Telegraph launches screening campaign
The findings have been released as The Telegraph launches a campaign calling for the introduction of targeted screening for prostate cancer. Men are not offered tests currently, even if they have a family history of the disease.
Experts believe there is a growing case for targeted screening, meaning that PSA blood tests would be offered to those at heightened risk of the disease.
Peter Kyle, the Science Secretary, hopes to harness AI and data to improve prostate cancer screening for high-risk men which factors in family history, genetics, demographics and other factors.
Mr Kyle, writing in The Telegraph, said he hopes researchers can harness the vast amount of health data available to 'develop AI-powered tools that can predict cancer risk' to save thousands of lives a year.
The UK National Screening Committee is currently considering whether to recommend the introduction of mass testing.
'I told my story to raise awareness'
Sir Chris said: 'I was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer at 47. By this age, my prostate cancer was advanced and could have been progressing from when I was 45 or even younger. With prostate cancer, the earlier you find it, the easier it is to treat. We need the system to change to enable more men to get diagnosed earlier, and stop them getting the news I got.
'That's why I believe men at highest risk, for example men with a family history like me, or black men, should be contacted by their GP earlier on to discuss a simple PSA blood test that can check for signs of prostate cancer.
'Then if there are any issues, they can get it treated it at an earlier stage.
'I've told my story to help raise awareness about the most common cancer in men and get more thinking about their risk and what they can do, but it shouldn't all be men's responsibility.'
The online risk checking tool, published by Prostate Cancer Research UK, asks men simple questions about their family history and ethnicity to determine risk levels, and gives advice about what help to seek.
The charity found that the number of men undergoing the check rose by 45 per cent overall, when data from October 2024 to February 2025 was compared with the same period the year before.
The sharpest increase by far came from men aged between 45 and 49, with a family history of the disease.
In total 10,427 such men checked their risk, compared with 5,891 in the same period the previous years.
In total there were 688,796 checks during the period, up from 473, 843 the year before.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
27 minutes ago
- The Independent
Patients whose lives were ruined after being ‘needlessly given cancer drug for years' sue NHS trust
More than 20 patients who say their quality of life was wrecked when they were needlessly given a highly toxic cancer drug are suing the NHS trust involved. Some people were prescribed temozolomide – which should normally be used for only six months – for more than a decade during treatment by the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. They say the overprescribing left them with side-effects including secondary cancers and crippling fatigue. Earlier this year the Care Quality Commission was looking into at least 14 cases, but lawyers say more are emerging all the time. An investigation by lawyers Brabners found that, over the past two decades, numerous patients with brain and spinal tumours under the care of Professor Ian Brown were routinely exposed to prolonged and in some cases 'unnecessary' use of the chemotherapy drug, which has severe side-effects including extreme fatigue, confusion, sickness and seizures. The time periods temozolomide was given for allegedly ran contrary to medical and scientific guidelines. Standard NHS procedure is to use the drug over six months, and the drug manufacturer advises it be used for up to 12 months. One man said he was prescribed it for nearly two years longer than necessary, suffering extreme fatigue and low mood as a result. A woman in her twenties said she was misdiagnosed with cancer, receiving the drug needlessly for about eight years. Some patients are now having treatment for secondary cancers allegedly linked to overuse of temozolomide, the lawyers claim. Others claimed its prolonged use left them unable to pursue career ambitions and normal day-to-day activities because the chemotherapy was debilitating, with a long recovery time. Some reported loss of fertility or abnormal blood test results. The legal team says data shows that the trust's spending on the drug of £3.6m from 2009 to 2024 is 10 times that of other NHS oncology departments. The lawyers are now calling for an extended patient safety review and independent investigation, focusing in particular on treatment received by patients under Prof Brown dating back to 2006. The trust has been conducting an internal patient safety review, covering 2017 to 2023, when Prof Brown retired. A patient who identified only as Michael received an extra 22 cycles of temozolomide at the trust, despite his scans being stable. Prof Brown was not present during consultations, and Michael said he was always seen by a clinical nurse specialist. After suffering extreme fatigue and low mood, he learnt through news reports of mistreatment –not from the trust – that he should not have remained on treatment for so long, according to his lawyers. Another patient, identified only as Becky, says she received at least 100 cycles of the drug unnecessarily after being misdiagnosed with a brain tumour. Fiona Tinsley, head of medical negligence at Brabners, said: 'The extent of this scandal, and the physical and mental impact it has had on Prof Brown's patients cannot be underestimated.' She added: 'We believe there are many more patients out there who haven't yet come forward and some who may have sadly passed away. 'While we welcome the ongoing investigations being undertaken by the General Medical Council and Royal College of Physicians, we believe a full independent inquiry is necessary – including an extension of the trust's own review back to 2006 – not only to ensure justice for victims, but that processes are put in place to better identify and prevent such failings happening again.' A spokesperson for the trust told The Independent: 'We have comprehensively reviewed and spoken to all individuals who were receiving temozolomide (TMZ) treatment at the end of 2023 to ensure appropriate support and care plans are in place. 'A glioblastoma is an aggressive brain tumour with fewer than two per cent of patients surviving longer than 10 years. This is an extremely complex condition and all modes of treatment – surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy – carry the risk of complications and side-effects. 'National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidelines recognise that clinicians can exercise professional judgment appropriate to individual circumstances when offering treatment to patients. 'We have commissioned the Royal College of Physicians to conduct an independent review of a representative cohort of patients who received greater than 12 cycles of adjuvant TMZ between 2017 and 2023. 'As this process is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage." It's understood that CQC inspectors have been in touch with the trust to understand the details, and seek assurances that patients are not at risk. The regulator will be reviewing more information to judge whether it needs to be involved.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
The priming skin serum that banishes breakouts to leave skin glowing - and it uses a VERY unique ingredient: 'My skin has never looked so clear'
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Clear skin can be difficult to achieve, especially if you have blemishes. You might find that you're either dealing with a breakout or the marks left behind. Both of those concerns are a job for the 47 Skin Anti-Blemish and Scar Repair Serum. This powerful serum takes no prisoners, working on contact to kill off 99.9 percent of the bacteria responsible for blemishes. There's nothing else like it, and it's all thanks to the unique compound known as Silver Chitoderm. 47 Skin Anti-Blemish and Scar Repair Serum Bacteria can run rampant on your skin, causing stubborn breakouts that are difficult to control. This serum works like a dream, killing 99.9 percent of them to leave skin clearer and brighter. In addition to reducing blemishes and marks, it also imparts moisture to give your skin a softer feel. You can even use it as a makeup primer! The results are astonishing, with many users sharing their impressive before and after results. Buy here Shop The brand harnessed the protective and healing properties of silver and coupled them with Chitoderm, which is formulated to create a protective and supportive barrier on the surface and essentially keep the silver right where it needs to be. Because the silver is concentrated right where you need it, it can target those unwanted marks with precision. Whether your concern is a blemish or a spot, you can rely on it to eradicate the bacteria and leave skin calmer and clearer. According to Dr. Sunil Chopra, a consultant dermatologist who founded the London Dermatology Centre, 'It decreases the production of melanin, which is often elevated in scars, reducing pigmentation over time.' And, unlike so many other treatments formulated to minimize those marks, 47 Skin's formula won't leave skin feeling tight and parched. In fact, it has the opposite effect thanks to ingredients like shea butter that soften skin to leave it feeling smoother and looking plumper. The beauty of the formula is that it works overtime, even doubling as a primer for makeup. That's key, because if you regularly wear makeup, you know how helpful primer can be — but very few offer the powerhouse skin care benefits that this serum delivers. The proof is in the consumer studies consisting of over 9,300 participants. Of those, a whopping 94 percent said they would buy the serum again, while 92 percent experienced a reduction in their spots. A whopping 90 percent said they had fewer scars, too. It's proven so effective that users have shared jaw-dropping before and after images revealing clarity and a brighter complexion. 'This is an excellent product. It has really smoothed out my complexion. The delivery was quick to boot. Very pleased,' raved one shopper. 'The acne has visibly decreased, as have my scars and uneven skin tone,' shared another. 'Overall it just looks so much better.' A third customer summed it up perfectly, stating: 'My skin has never looked so clear.' If you're chasing results like those, the 47 Skin Anti-Blemish and Scar Repair Serum could be just what your routine needs!
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
'My son hasn't had a glass of water since he was four - and I understand why'
A new survey has revealed four in ten Brits rely on cups of tea to stay hydrated - and one mum has said her son hasn't drunk a glass of water in five years because it's "boring" More than two and a half million Brits struggle to recall the last time they had a plain glass of water. Research has discovered almost half rely primarily on cups of tea to stay hydrated, with a third opting for coffee or fizzy drinks. Boomers are twice as likely as Gen Z to rely on tea for their fluid intake. Meanwhile, women are more likely than men to fail to drink enough water. The survey based on 2,000 adults found only 17 per cent are consuming enough water, based on NHS guidance which suggests up to eight glasses a day. What's more, one in ten parents polled don't think their children drink enough each day. The study, which also surveyed 837 teenagers, discovered 15 per cent of them consume plain water only a few times a week at most, leaving many parents worried about their intake and three quarters having to 'force' their children to stay hydrated. It comes after a doctor's warning to people who drink even a 'single cup of tea'. Man called 999 for 'his own protection' - then ended up jailed himself One mum, Kelly Mulligan, 53, says her son, Max who is nine, hasn't had a glass of plain water since he was four years old. The youngster would rather drink apple juice, which Kelly dilutes with water to keep his sugar content down. "Max has never liked plain water he says there's no flavour," she said. "I don't drink plain water either. I can only drink carbonated water or tea." Kelly, from Brighton, who runs her own cleaning business, explained: "Max will take little sips of water if he needs to, but he's always thirsty and says plain water doesn't quench his thirst." Max has to take a bottle of water to school as they are not allowed anything else, but Kelly isn't sure how much of it he actually drinks. "He's healthy and happy, so I have no concerns. He has a varied diet and keeps active. It isn't like he's drinking no liquids at all. The diluted apple juice is a middle ground which helps keep my concerns for his teeth a bay," she said. According to the research commissioned by hydration drink Más+ by Messi, which is promoting positive hydration to keep Brits on top of their game, 34 per cent of 13–17 year olds prefer other beverages to water, while 26 per cent 'forget' to consume it. Meanwhile, 29 per cent of grown-ups reckoned tea, coffee and fizzy drinks are just as good as water for staying hydrated. However, 17 per cent regularly suffer symptoms they reckon are caused by dehydration, including headaches or tiredness. Only 12 per cent actively track their water consumption, with 60 per cent not bothering whatsoever – and the rest attempting to keep mental notes on their intake. Sophie Van Ettinger, global VP Más+ by Messi, said: "It's alarming the number of people who are not aware they are dehydrated daily and will often go through days experiencing a lack of energy or headaches, not realising a simple glass of water or even a hydration drink is the solution." Leo Messi, co-founder for the drink, added: "As an athlete, I know the importance of hydration for peak performance."
