The number of men living with prostate cancer in the UK has risen by about 100,000 since 2020, according to new estimates from Macmillan Cancer Support. Around 600,000 men are now living with the disease, while more than 68,000 are diagnosed each year — roughly one every eight minutes.
The UK has approximately 34.5 million males, including boys, in 2026—about 49% of the population. The latest official ONS estimate put the total UK population at 69.3 million in mid-2024. ONS population estimate
Therefore, the estimated 600,000 men living with prostate cancer represent roughly 1.7% of the UK’s total male population, or about one in every 57 males.
Men who are concerned about their risk should speak to their GP rather than wait for symptoms. This is particularly important for Black men, men aged over 50 and those with a family history of prostate cancer.
Macmillan said the number living with prostate cancer had increased from approximately 500,000 in 2020. The figure does not mean 100,000 men were diagnosed in a single year; it describes the growth in the number living with or beyond the disease over six years.
Prostate cancer has also become the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK, overtaking breast cancer. The rise reflects several factors, including an ageing population, increased public awareness, more testing and improvements that are helping men live longer following diagnosis.
However, pressure on NHS cancer services means early action remains important. Delays in seeking medical advice can reduce the opportunity to identify and treat some cancers before they spread.
Prostate cancer may develop without early symptoms
One common misunderstanding is that a person cannot have prostate cancer if they feel healthy.
Dr Anthony Cunliffe, national clinical adviser at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Prostate cancer often develops without symptoms in its early stages.”
Symptoms are more likely to appear when an enlarged prostate or tumour begins pressing on the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the body.
Possible warning signs include needing to urinate more often, particularly during the night; difficulty starting to urinate; a weak flow; feeling that the bladder has not emptied fully; or a sudden need to use the toilet.
Blood in the urine or semen, erectile problems, unexplained weight loss and persistent pain in the back may also require medical attention. These symptoms can have causes other than cancer, but they should still be discussed with a doctor.
Who faces a higher risk?
Prostate cancer mainly affects men aged 50 and over, and the likelihood of developing it increases with age.
Family history also matters. Men whose father or brother had prostate cancer, particularly if the relative was diagnosed before the age of 60, may face a higher risk.
Black men are another important higher-risk group. Prostate Cancer UK estimates that about one in four Black men will be diagnosed during their lifetime, compared with approximately one in eight men overall.
Black men can also develop the disease at a younger age. The charity advises Black men aged 45 and over to discuss their individual risk with a GP, even when they do not have symptoms.
Having a higher risk does not mean that someone will certainly develop prostate cancer. It means they may benefit from an informed conversation with a healthcare professional.
What is a PSA test?
A prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, test measures the level of a particular protein in the blood. A raised result can be linked to prostate cancer, but it may also be caused by an enlarged prostate, inflammation, infection or other non-cancerous conditions.
A normal PSA result does not completely rule out cancer either. Doctors therefore consider the result alongside a patient’s age, symptoms, family history and other risk factors before deciding whether further checks are needed.
Further investigation may include an MRI scan and, in some cases, a biopsy, in which a small tissue sample is examined.
There is currently no national programme routinely screening every man for prostate cancer. The UK National Screening Committee decided against offering PSA screening to all men because the test could lead to unnecessary investigations and treatment, as well as missed cancers.
Some men at particularly high genetic risk may be offered screening, while research continues into safer and more accurate approaches. Anyone worried about symptoms or personal risk can still ask their GP about the available options.
The latest figures should not cause panic, but they underline the importance of reliable information and timely medical advice. Men should not assume that feeling well removes the possibility of prostate cancer, particularly if they belong to a higher-risk group.
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