A quiet nudge at home, a test, then a life-changing result. David Cameron, 59, has disclosed that a raised PSA test led to scans and a biopsy confirming prostate cancer. He credits his wife, Samantha, for urging him to get checked after she heard hospitality founder Nick Jones share his own story on the radio. As Cameron later put it:
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He chose prompt treatment and says recent checks show he is cancer-free.
The diagnosis arrived against a painful personal backdrop — his elder brother Alexander died of pancreatic cancer in 2023 — and it sharpened Cameron’s resolve to speak openly. He says men too often delay health checks, and he wants to use his profile to normalise conversations about prostate health and encourage earlier testing.
From a radio interview to a decisive diagnosis
It started with a simple blood test. Cameron’s prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level came back high, triggering an MRI that flagged areas of concern, followed by a biopsy that confirmed prostate cancer. Presented with options, he moved swiftly, opting for focal therapy — a targeted approach designed to destroy cancer cells while preserving healthy tissue and, crucially, reduce side effects linked to radiotherapy or surgery.
Post-treatment scans indicated the procedure worked, and Cameron now describes himself as clear. The path he followed — PSA, imaging, biopsy, then a less invasive therapy — mirrors how advances in diagnostics and treatment are reshaping prostate care. He hopes his example will nudge other men to act sooner rather than later.
Why Cameron is pushing for targeted screening now
The UK has no routine national screening programme for prostate cancer, largely because the PSA test can miss cancers or trigger unnecessary procedures. Cameron acknowledges those concerns. Yet he argues the landscape has changed, with better imaging, clearer risk profiling, and treatments like focal therapy helping to limit overtreatment. His call is focused: offer screening to men at higher risk first — such as those with a family history or certain genetic factors — and build from there.
Timing matters. A major NHS-backed research effort is beginning, known as Transform, to compare promising screening approaches with current diagnostic pathways. The programme is funded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research to the tune of £16 million, with additional support from Prostate Cancer UK, according to reporting by the Guardian. In parallel, the UK National Screening Committee is weighing whether to recommend a first, targeted NHS programme.
The stakes are clear. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with around 55,000 diagnoses each year and roughly 12,000 deaths annually. Detecting disease earlier typically opens the door to more effective, less aggressive treatment. That is the core of Cameron’s argument: start where the data shows the greatest need, and expand as evidence builds.
The human side — and who could benefit first
There is also an equity question. Outcomes are not the same for everyone. Some communities — including Black men and people in working-class areas — face worse results, and charities want that gap to close quickly. Prostate Cancer UK has urged faster change and backs research and pilot schemes that can reach the right men at the right time.
Public figures speaking out can shift behaviour. When high-profile names discuss diagnosis and treatment, more people book tests. Cameron’s story began with a radio interview that caught his wife’s ear; his own disclosure could spur other families to start that same conversation at home. Could a short appointment — a quick PSA, then follow-up if needed — make all the difference?
The message, ultimately, is practical. Know your risk. Talk to your GP if you are eligible or concerned. If the committee gives the green light to targeted screening, expect an initial focus on higher-risk groups, closely tracked by the NHS and researchers to ensure benefits outweigh harms. And, as Cameron’s experience shows, acting early can open up treatment options that aim to cure while protecting quality of life.
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David Cameron reveals prostate cancer diagnosis and calls for targeted screening
