In the UK, about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.1 It accounts for 26.1% of all malignant cancer registrations in men.2 With an estimated prostate cancer incidence of 169.3 per 100,000, the UK prostate cancer incidence is above the European average of 153.9 per 100,000.3 There are a number of factors that help explain the higher incidence rate, including the introduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in the 1980s.4
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1 Prostate Cancer UK., About prostate cancer. July 2019. Accessible at https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information/about-prostate-cancer (last accessed March 2022)
2 Office for National Statistics., Cancer registration statistics, England: 2016. 2018. Accessible at https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/
conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/cancerregistrationstatisticsengland/final2016 (last accessed March 2022)
3 European Cancer Information System (ECIS). Estimates of cancer incidence and mortality in 2020. Accessible at https://ecis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/explorer.php?$0-0$1-UK$2-All$4-1,2$3-All$6-0,85$5-2008,2008$7-7$CEstByCancer$X0_8-3$CEstRelativeCanc$X1_8-3$X1_9-AE27$CEstBySexByCancer$X2_8-3$X2_-1-1 (last accessed March 2022)
4 Cancer Research UK. Prostate Cancer European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, Males, UK. Accessible at https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/prostate-cancer/incidence#heading-Two (last accessed March 2022)
Links to external websites are provided as a resource to the viewer. We accept no responsibility for the content or services of the linked site other than the information or other materials provided or reviewed by the LTPC expert group members
European Cancer Information System (ECIS). Estimates of cancer incidence and mortality in 2020. Accessible at https://ecis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/explorer.php?$0-0$1-All$2-All$4-1$3-34$6-0,85$5-2008,2008$7-8$CEstByCountry$X0_8-3$X0_19-AE27$X0_20-No$CEstBySexByCountry$X1_8-3$X1_19-AE27$X1_-1-1$CEstByIndiByCountry$X2_8-3$X2_19-AE27$X2_20-No$CEstRelative$X3_8-3$X3_9-AE27$X3_19-AE27$CEstByCountryTable$X4_19-AE27 (last accessed March 2022)
The estimated mortality for prostate cancer in the UK is 39.3 per 100,000 population.1 As with prostate cancer incidence, mortality in the UK is higher than the EU27 average of 32.1 per 100,000 population.1
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1 European Cancer Information System (ECIS). Estimates of cancer incidence and mortality in 2020. Accessible at https://ecis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/explorer.php?$0-0$1-All$2-All$4-1$3-34$6-0,85$5-2008,2008$7-8$CEstByCountry$X0_8-3$X0_19-AE27$X0_20-No$CEstBySexByCountry$X1_8-3$X1_19-AE27$X1_-1-1$CEstByIndiByCountry$X2_8-3$X2_19-AE27$X2_20-No$CEstRelative$X3_8-3$X3_9-AE27$X3_19-AE27$CEstByCountryTable$X4_19-AE27 (last accessed February 2022)
Links to external websites are provided as a resource to the viewer. We accept no responsibility for the content or services of the linked site other than the information or other materials provided or reviewed by the LTPC expert group members
European Cancer Information System (ECIS). Estimates of cancer incidence and mortality in 2020. Accessible at https://ecis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/explorer.php?$0-0$1-All$2-All$4-1$3-34$6-0,85$5-2008,2008$7-8$CEstByCountry$X0_8-3$X0_19-AE27$X0_20-No$CEstBySexByCountry$X1_8-3$X1_19-AE27$X1_-1-1$CEstByIndiByCountry$X2_8-3$X2_19-AE27$X2_20-No$CEstRelative$X3_8-3$X3_9-AE27$X3_19-AE27$CEstByCountryTable$X4_19-AE27 (last accessed March 2022)
Prostate cancer survival rates in the UK have improved over the past two decades. However, when compared to other European countries, its five-year survival outcomes (88.7%) lag behind that of other comparable European countries (Germany 91.6%, France 93.1%).1
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1 Hofmarcher, T et al. Comparator Report on Cancer in Europe in 2019. IHE Report 2019:7. Accessible at https://www.efpia.eu/publications/cancer-comparator-report/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/ (last accessed March 2022)
Links to external websites are provided as a resource to the viewer. We accept no responsibility for the content or services of the linked site other than the information or other materials provided or reviewed by the LTPC expert group members
Hofmarcher, T et al. Comparator Report on Cancer in Europe in 2019. IHE Report 2019:7. Accessible at https://www.efpia.eu/publications/cancer-comparator-report/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/ (last accessed March 2022)
In England, cancer forms part of the NHS Long Term Plan 2019. Prostate cancer is mentioned in relation to the implementation of a new rapid diagnostic pathway for specific cancers, including prostate cancer. Prostate cancer patients will also get rapid access to clinical support where they are worried that their cancer may have recurred, as part of the plan. However, due to the huge impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer services, the Cancer services recovery plan is currently the main plan directing clinical behaviours.
Analysis of the political profile of prostate cancer in the UK shows that it does not receive the attention that would be expected given the scale and impact of the disease. Between January 2015 and January 2020, prostate cancer was significantly less featured in political activity than other comparable cancers. For example, there were 431 parliamentary questions on breast cancer compared to only 136 on prostate cancer. In addition, breast cancer was mentioned over 3 times more than prostate cancer in parliamentary debates (10 compared to 3 times). There is also an All-Party Parliamentary Group on breast cancer, but not on prostate cancer.
Please note that the UK’s other devolved nations also have separate cancer plans, which can be accessed through the links below:
Scotland: Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action 2016 (Recovery and Redesign: An Action Plan for Cancer Services was also published in light of the COVID-19 pandemic at the end of 2020)
Northern Ireland: A Cancer Control Programme for Northern Ireland 2008 (a new 10-year cancer plan is currently being drafted)
The prostate cancer clinical guidelines developed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) sets out the NHS’ approach towards care for those affected by prostate cancer in England. The recommended care pathway, includes patient access to*:
Legend:
Recommendation included
Recommendation not included
Access to Specialists
In the UK, there was only one urologist per 64,260 population in 2018,1 which is the lowest number in Europe after Ireland.2
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1 Palmer, M and Taylor, C. British Association of Urological Surgeons and The Specialist Advisory Committee in Urology: Workforce Report. 2018. Accessible at https://www.baus.org.uk/_userfiles/pages/files/
publications/Workforce_Report_Sep%202018%20ver%201.1.pdf (last accessed March 2022)
2 European Society of Residents in Urology (ESRU). Ireland. March 2018. Accessible at https://esru.eu/?q=ireland (last accessed March 2022)
Cost of cancer
In 2018, the UK spent less on cancer care and treatment than other comparable European countries, spending €176 per person,1 higher than the European average of €154 per person.2 Whilst a number of factors contribute to improved outcomes for those affected by prostate cancer, studies have shown that those countries that invest more in cancer care tend to achieve better outcomes for patients.1
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1 Hofmarcher, T et al. Comparator Report on Cancer in Europe in 2019. IHE Report 2019:7. Accessible at https://www.efpia.eu/publications/cancer-comparator-report/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/ (last accessed March 2022)
2 Hofmarcher, T et al. Comparator Report on Cancer in Europe in 2019. IHE Report 2019:7. Accessible at https://www.efpia.eu/publications/cancer-comparator-report/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/ (last accessed March 2022) – average calculated from data included for individual cancers
Cancer medicines spend
In 2018, the UK spent €49 per capita on cancer medicines – one of the lowest per capita spends in Western Europe, and less than half of the per capita expenditure in Austria (€108) .1 Patients can only benefit from advances in treatments if they are able to access them. Studies have shown that uptake of cancer medicines by clinicians for use in all eligible patients remains low relative to comparator countries.1
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1 Hofmarcher, T et al. Comparator Report on Cancer in Europe in 2019. IHE Report 2019:7. Accessible at https://www.efpia.eu/publications/cancer-comparator-report/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/ (last accessed March 2022)
Links to external websites are provided as a resource to the viewer. We accept no responsibility for the content or services of the linked site other than the information or other materials provided or reviewed by the LTPC expert group members
*Different data sources were used for Belgium, Hungary, Italy, Romania and the UK, which may use data from different years. See references below. No data was found for Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta and Slovakia.
European Society of Residents in Urology (ESRU). Countries. March 2018. Accessible at https://esru.eu/?q=countries (last accessed March 2022)
Federal Public Service of Public Health, Safety of the Food Chain and the Environment. HWF STATAN 2019 (detailed statistics). 2019. Accessible at https://organesdeconcertation.sante.belgique.be/fr/documents/hwf-statan-2019-statistiques-detaillees (last accessed March 2022)
Boszormenyi-Nagy, G. Report on urological inpatient care based on 2018 data. Urologia Hungarica. Accessible at http://urologiahungarica.hu/index.php/2020/05/12/beszamolo-az-urologiai-fekvobeteg-ellatasrol-a-2018-as-adatok-alapjan/ (last accessed March 2022)
I.Stat. Personale sanitario. Accessible at http://dati.istat.it/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=DCIS_PERS_SANIT (last accessed March 2022)
Institutul National De Statistica. Activitatea Unitatilor Sanitare in Anul 2019. 2020. Accessible at https://insse.ro/cms/sites/default/files/field/publicatii/activitatea_unitatilor_sanitare_anul_2019.pdf (last accessed March 2022)
United Nations, Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. World Population Prospects 2019. Accessible at https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/1_Population/
WPP2019_POP_F01_1_TOTAL_POPULATION_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx (last accessed March 2022)
British Association of Urological Surgeons and The Specialist Advisory Committee in Urology. Workforce Report. 2018. Accessible at https://www.baus.org.uk/_userfiles/pages/files/publications/
Workforce_Report_Sep%202018%20ver%201.1.pdf (last accessed March 2022)
Links to external websites are provided as a resource to the viewer. We accept no responsibility for the content or services of the linked site other than the information or other materials provided or reviewed by the LTPC expert group members
Hofmarcher, T et al. Comparator Report on Cancer in Europe in 2019. IHE Report 2019:7. Accessible at https://www.efpia.eu/publications/cancer-comparator-report/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/ (last accessed March 2022)
Links to external websites are provided as a resource to the viewer. We accept no responsibility for the content or services of the linked site other than the information or other materials provided or reviewed by the LTPC expert group members
Hofmarcher, T et al. Comparator Report on Cancer in Europe in 2019. IHE Report 2019:7. Accessible at https://www.efpia.eu/publications/cancer-comparator-report/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/ (last accessed March 2022)
Prostate cancer organisations in United Kingdom include:
Tackle Prostate Cancer
https://www.tackleprostate.org/
Prostate Cancer UK
https://prostatecanceruk.org/
Reference Number: ONC_2021_0132_BE
Date of preparation: January 2022
