Sports Stars Unite In Support Of Prostate Cancer UK

Disease becomes the UK’s most commonly diagnosed cancer – 10 years earlier than predicted. 

Star names from the world of sport have teamed up against their toughest opponent of all after powerful new statistics from Prostate Cancer UK put the disease as the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK – 10 years earlier than predicted.

Awareness was heightened by the charity’s 2018 announcement that prostate cancer had overtaken breast cancer to become the third biggest cancer killer and high-profile individuals such as Bill Turnbull and Stephen Fry sharing their experience of the disease. 

The leading men’s health charity now warns that the Covid-19 crisis has put at risk much of the research needed to tackle the disease and is calling for support to raise the millions of pounds the charity needs to get prostate cancer research back on track.

Backing those calls are star names connected to the cause from across the sporting spectrum, including football, golf, boxing, rugby league and darts.

Sky Sports presenter and Prostate Cancer UK ambassador, Jeff Stelling, who has raised more than £1 million for the charity through a series of March for Men marathon walks, said: “Prostate cancer being the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK is a sobering statistic, but this does mean that the message is getting out there about the dangers of this disease and that more people are having vital conversations about it.

“But these are difficult times for the charity. Research has stopped and we desperately need to develop a screening programme to improve the outcome for men, so we need to keep on fundraising as much as we can.

“I’ve been in the research labs, and there are some mighty talented and dedicated people who are working their socks off to find effective treatments for prostate cancer. The sooner those treatments come along then the happier me and some of my close friends affected by prostate cancer will be.”

Stelling’s calls are echoed by former England footballer, Manchester City legend and prostate cancer survivor, Mike Summerbee. But for his wife Tina telling him to speak to his GP, he believes he may not be alive today.

He said: “I’m one of those people that have survived prostate cancer, just like my great mate Denis Law. Prostate cancer was my toughest opponent and that’s why I’ll always continue to support the great work of the charity.

“Now, more than ever Prostate Cancer UK need everyone to stand together to help forge a better and brighter future. A future where men like me don’t discover their diagnosis by fluke but because the incredible research has funded a screening programme to accurately diagnose men.”

The latest annual figures show that prostate cancer diagnoses have more than doubled over the last 20 years alone. This has seen prostate cancer overtake breast, lung and bowel cancer to become the most commonly diagnosed overall with 57,192 diagnoses and around 400,000 men in the UK living with or after the disease.

Research into new tests and treatments has meant that men diagnosed in 2020 will have a much-improved chance of survival compared to 20 years ago. Despite this, there is still no screening programme for prostate cancer, as current tests such as the PSA blood test are not reliable enough at accurately spotting the disease. Better tests and scans would help bring us closer to a vital screening programme to ensure all men’s prostate cancers are identified early enough when it’s still possible to cure.  

Angela Culhane, Chief Executive at Prostate Cancer UK said: “Restoring this research will cost millions, but at the same time we’re predicting an unprecedented drop in our fundraising. That’s why we’re asking for the public’s support during this difficult time, to help us secure the future of prostate cancer research.” 

Despite face to face fundraising activities being postponed this summer following the Government’s social distancing measures, the charity has a range of virtual activities available people can choose from to join and donate to. 

Find out more about the impact of Covid-19 on research or donate to Prostate Cancer UK at prostatecanceruk.org/urgentappeal.

Anyone with concerns about prostate cancer can contact Prostate Cancer UK’s Specialist Nurses in confidence on 0800 074 8383 or online at www.prostatecanceruk.org. The Specialist Nurse phone service is free to landlines and open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday with late opening until 8pm on Wednesdays.