The news record numbers of patients are coming forward for urological cancer checks has been welcomed by patient Kevin Webber and NHS South East’s Medical Director.

Urgent referrals for urological cancers across the South East reached an all-time high in March this year, with over 4300 people checked in that month alone. All four Cancer Alliances in the South East also saw an increase in their urological referrals during the same month*.

The surge in referrals regionally backs a national increase as almost 25,000 people (24,331) were checked across England during the same time period. The much welcomed increases come following a campaign launched by the NHS and Prostate Cancer UK in February.

In 2014, Kevin Webber, then 49, was given just two years to live after being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. However, with the help of a drug he has taken over the past seven years, Kevin has defied expectations and is still going strong, running ultra-marathons around the world.

The joint six-week campaign launched in mid-February, urged men to use the charity’s online risk checker in a bid to reduce the shortfall in men starting prostate cancer treatment since the pandemic began.

The latest NHS figures show  the campaign had an immediate impact as urological cancer referrals in March increased by more than a fifth (23%) nationally, compared to the previous month, and are up by almost one third (30%) compared with the same month last year.

More than half a million people (550,000) nationally checked their risk of developing the disease online during the six weeks of the campaign with men deemed high risk encouraged to visit their GP to get checked out.

Health chiefs have doubled spending on cancer awareness campaigns since before the pandemic.

Kevin said: “It’s amazing news that record numbers of patients are coming forward for urological cancer checks in the South East.

“We know that early diagnosis has a huge impact on treatment options and outcomes, and I would encourage anyone to speak to their GP surgery if they’re concerned about potential cancer symptoms.”

NHS South East Medical Director Vaughan Lewis said: “Lives are being saved thanks to a record-breaking number of patients making a decision to get themselves checked. Often, it won’t be cancer, but if it is finding it earlier makes it easier to treat

“This is fantastic news, but we’re not complacent and we recognise there is always more we can do to encourage people to come forward, which is why we’re continually investing and working towards faster and earlier diagnosis across all cancers.”

The latest monthly performance figures also showed nationally the NHS saw the highest month on record for total cancer referrals, with more than a quarter of a million people checked in March alone – an almost 40% increase on the number of checks made in March 2020.

Alongside this, almost 30,000 people started treatment for cancer (28,378) – the second highest number on record. This is second only to March 2020, with 28,881 people starting treatment.

Prostate cancer, one of the most commonly diagnosed urological cancers, is very treatable if caught early, so it’s vitally important that these men are found quickly before their cancer spreads. Research suggests treatment at stages 1 and 2 has a near 100% survival rate compared to around 50% at stage 4.

Symptoms may not show up during early stages but people who have higher risk are encouraged to come forward. Common symptoms of prostate cancer include needing to urinate more frequently, weak flow, and blood in your urine. For a full list, see the NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/symptoms/

Check your risk using Prostate Cancer UK’s online risk checker at prostatecanceruk.org/riskcheck