David Cameron Reveals Prostate Cancer Battle and Calls for Nationwide Screening
Former UK Prime Minister backs national prostate cancer screening as new NHS trial launches
Former Prime Minister David Cameron has revealed that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year after his wife, Samantha Cameron, encouraged him to get tested. The 59-year-old peer, now cancer-free, said the disease was detected early thanks to a PSA blood test he requested in 2024.
Cameron explained that he decided to see his GP after hearing Soho House founder Nick Jones speak about his own cancer diagnosis on the radio. Samantha urged him to undergo similar checks, according to The Times.
After a high PSA result, Cameron underwent a biopsy that confirmed prostate cancer. “You always dread hearing those words,” he recalled, describing the moment his doctor delivered the diagnosis.
Less-Invasive Focal Therapy Led to All-Clear
Instead of a prostatectomy or radiotherapy, Cameron opted for focal therapy, a targeted treatment that uses electric pulses to destroy cancer cells with minimal impact on surrounding tissue. Following treatment and an additional MRI scan, he received the all-clear.
Cameron said the experience strengthened his belief that the UK needs a targeted prostate cancer screening programme, particularly for high-risk men. He argued that medical advances have “transformed the maths” on early detection, making national screening both effective and urgent.
Call for National Screening Gains Momentum
Prostate Cancer UK welcomed Cameron’s decision to speak publicly, noting that prostate cancer remains the most common cancer in men in the UK, with around 55,000 new cases and 12,000 deaths each year.
The charity warned that men from higher-risk groups — including Black men and those from working-class backgrounds — continue to face worse outcomes due to late diagnosis.
Major NHS Trial to Test New Screening Methods
Cameron’s comments coincide with the launch of Transform, a £42 million NHS trial hailed by Health Secretary Wes Streeting as a “game-changer” for men’s health.
The study aims to determine the most effective method of screening for prostate cancer, comparing:
PSA blood tests
Genetic testing
Saliva-based DNA tests
A rapid MRI scan known as a “prostagram”
Current NHS diagnostic methods
Around 16,000 men aged 50–74 — or 45–74 for high-risk groups — will be invited to take part via their GPs.
Experts hope the trial will pave the way for the UK’s first national prostate cancer screening programme, potentially saving thousands of lives through earlier detection.
