Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy has called for a more systematic approach to prostate cancer detection, arguing that governments and public health bodies should do more to identify men at risk of the disease.
Hoy, who was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer at the age of 47, has become a prominent advocate for earlier detection and greater awareness among men.
Speaking to BBC Scotland, Hoy said responsibility for raising awareness should not rest primarily with high-profile individuals who have experienced the disease.
“It shouldn’t just be down to high-profile individuals like Jeremy Clarkson or myself or any number of men who’ve been in a similar situation,” he said.
Hoy added that there should be “a more systematic and proactive approach to let men know about their own risk”.
UK screening gap
His comments come against the backdrop of continuing debate over prostate cancer detection in the UK.
Unlike some established cancer screening programmes, the UK does not currently operate a national testing scheme for prostate cancer. PSA testing is available to men who request it, but PSA levels can be raised by conditions other than cancer, meaning that results are not always accurate or definitive.
The issue is particularly relevant for men who go on to develop advanced disease, where treatment can control cancer but is generally not considered curative.
Hoy said 10,000 men a year in the UK find out too late that they have prostate cancer.
Evolving treatment landscape
While hormone-based therapies are currently central to treating advanced cases of the disease, drugmakers are increasingly focused on developing more targeted approaches.
One such therapy is VIR-5500, a investigational PSMA-targeted treatment from US-based Vir Biotechnology, which has shown promise in early trials.
Radioligand therapies are also being explored, which work by harnessing different tumour targets and radioactive isotopes to deliver treatment more precisely.
From awareness to action
For Hoy, however, advances in treatment do not remove the need for better detection.
The Olympic cyclist is continuing to campaign for greater awareness, including through his annual ‘Tour De 4’ charity cycle, and is calling on politicians to move beyond discussion and take action.
“Actions speak louder than words,” he told the BBC.
Featured image: lazyllama on Adobe Stock
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