Former British Prime Minister David Cameron has revealed that he has been diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer, prompting renewed calls for improved screening and greater public awareness across the UK.
The 59-year-old disclosed that a routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test flagged high levels, leading to a biopsy that confirmed the presence of cancer.
Cameron explained that the decision to get tested came after he and his wife listened to a BBC radio interview with entrepreneur Nick Jones, who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and urged men to undergo screenings. Cameron told the Times that his wife insisted he book a test, a decision that ultimately led to early detection.
He has since been treated with focal therapy, a targeted medical procedure that uses ultrasound waves to destroy cancer cells while preserving surrounding tissue.
The UK currently does not operate a routine prostate cancer screening programme, largely due to concerns over the accuracy of the PSA test and the potential for overdiagnosis. Although men over 50 are entitled to request a PSA test, uptake remains inconsistent.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in Britain, with around 55,000 new cases diagnosed every year. Research has shown that risk is significantly higher for Black men, and PSA tests can produce disproportionately high rates of overdiagnosis in this group. Scientists are working to develop more accurate testing methods to help detect the disease earlier and more reliably.
Speaking about his diagnosis, Cameron said he felt a responsibility to share his experience publicly. “I don’t particularly like discussing my personal, intimate health issues, but I feel I ought to,” he told the Times. He added that “men are not very good at talking about their health” and often “tend to put things off,” noting that he wanted to use his own diagnosis to encourage others to take screening seriously. “I sort of thought, ‘well, this has happened to you, and you should lend your voice to it.’ I would feel bad if I didn’t come forward and say that I’ve had this experience.”
David Cameron served as Conservative prime minister from 2010 until 2016, stepping down following the Brexit referendum. He later returned to frontline politics as foreign secretary under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, serving in the role from 2022 to 2024.
