MORE than 14,000 prostate cancers have been missed during the pandemic, officials warn.
Experts claim around a fifth fewer cases have been picked up since the start of the Covid crisis.
NHS data shows 58,000 patients have started NHS treatment for the disease since April 2020.
But it is 14,099 fewer than would have been expected compared with pre-pandemic numbers.
Prostate Cancer UK says many men have felt reluctant to “bother” their GP during the pandemic over minor worries.
And the charity warns the number of “missing” patients will continue to grow unless more blokes come forward when they spot symptoms.
They include problems urinating or needing to pee more often.
For many, symptoms do not appear until the disease has spread, so the charity is urging men to use its risk assessment tool.
Survival is much higher if cases are picked up early.
Prostate Cancer UK and the NHS have now teamed up to urge men to see their GPs if they are concerned or high risk.
Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer for the NHS in England, said: “I urge you to use the Prostate Cancer UK risk checker today – it is a quick and easy way to understand your risk of prostate cancer and how you can take further action if you are at risk.
“The prognosis for the people we’re yet to see will be much better the earlier we see them.”
Actor Stephen Fry, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017 after a routine health check, and presenter Bill Turnbull have backed the campaign.
Fry said: “As you can imagine, I was pretty knocked back when I received a diagnosis of prostate cancer, particularly as I had no symptoms to indicate anything was wrong – something I later learned is very common.
“That’s why I’d urge you to check your risk and speak to your GP if you have any concerns – even if you feel completely well, as I did.”
Around one in six Brit men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.
The disease affects 48,000 people a year in the UK – and kills 12,000.
Nicola Tallett, Acting Chief Executive at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “The pandemic has meant thousands of men have not come forward for diagnosis and could be missing out on life-saving treatment.
“If things don’t change soon, the number of men missing out will continue to grow.
“Men have been telling us they haven’t wanted to ‘bother’ their GP during the pandemic – particularly if they don’t have any symptoms, which is the case for most men with early prostate cancer.”
