UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – NHS prostate cancer patients face two-month waits, with rising demand causing delayed treatment as services struggle to keep up with referrals.
As reported by The Telegraph, official data show the number of male cancer patients waiting long for NHS treatment has doubled in five years.
Health experts called the figures “alarming and unacceptable,” highlighting the NHS’s failure to meet growing demand.
Data on NHS delays in urological cancer care
Figures show that by May this year, 22,394 men faced delays of two months or more before starting treatment for urogenital cancers, primarily prostate cancer. This marks a rise from 10,941 cases recorded during the same period in 2019/20.
The number of urgent referrals for urological cancer rose from 36,879 in the year ending May 2020 to 52,464. The figures show 7,805 urgent patients waited more than 104 days for treatment, up from 3,635 five years ago.
Under NHS guidelines, 85 percent of patients are expected to begin treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral.
Data reveals that in May this year, only 58.1 percent of urology cases began treatment within the target time, a decline from 70.3 percent in May 2020.
The figures on prostate cancer waiting times have only been tracked by the NHS since 2023. By May 2025, only 55 percent of patients started treatment within the 62-day target.
What did Oliver Kemp say about prostate cancer treatment delays?
Oliver Kemp, CEO of Prostate Cancer Research, stated,
“Referrals for prostate and other urological cancers have surged, but the system hasn’t kept pace.”
He said,
“Almost half of men with prostate cancer are now waiting more than two months to start treatment. This is alarming and unacceptable. For some, those extra weeks mean the difference between curable and incurable.”
Mr Kemp added,
“We’re seeing men with fast-growing prostate cancers deteriorate while stuck in a queue. These are missed chances to save lives. Men are being diagnosed too late and treated too slowly.”
What did the NHS say about efforts to improve urological cancer care?
An NHS spokesman stated,
“NHS staff are working hard to ensure that every man affected by a urological cancer receives prompt diagnosis and treatment – and having seen record numbers come forward for checks in recent years thanks to greater awareness, we’re now diagnosing more cancers earlier and treating more people than ever before.”
They added,
“But there is much more to do to reduce waiting times and ensure more people receive timely treatment for urological cancers, and the NHS is fully committed to working with the Government to improve access to cancer care and patient experience.”
What did the health department say about tackling cancer treatment delays?
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman stated,
“Too many cancer patients are waiting too long for life-saving treatment, which is why we’re prioritising cancer care as we turn around more than a decade of neglect of our NHS. This includes rolling out new state-of-the-art radiotherapy machines to every region that will reduce the rounds of treatments patients need, making cancer care faster and more bearable for thousands of people.”
They added,
“We’re already seeing the impact of these efforts as 95,000 more people have had cancer diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days between July 2024 and May 2025, compared to the same period the previous year. This progress shows what can be achieved when we properly invest in and prioritise our NHS.”
How did early detection affect prostate cancer survival rates?
Campaigners urged targeted PSA screenings aimed at men considered at higher risk. This includes black men and those with a family history of prostate cancer.
Early diagnosis of prostate cancer means men have nearly a 100 percent chance of five-year survival. This drops to around 50 percent once the cancer spreads beyond the prostate.
What is the UK National Screening Committee considering about prostate cancer testing?
The National Screening Committee is considering the introduction of prostate cancer tests. The idea was previously rejected over concerns that PSA tests are unreliable and could lead to unnecessary treatments for many men.
Backup technology used to confirm diagnoses has improved significantly. Trials are underway that may reduce deaths by up to 40 percent.
Since 2010, the NHS has been collecting data on waiting times for urological cancers, primarily prostate cancer.
The latest data between 2020 and 2025 includes testicular cancer, which earlier data did not. However, this accounts for only a small part of the increase, with around 1,200 urgent referrals annually.
NHS standard waiting time for cancer treatment
The NHS aims to diagnose or rule out cancer within 28 days, targeting 75% compliance, rising to 80%.
Treatment should start within 31 days of decision (96% target) and within 62 days of urgent referral (85% target, currently 70%). Since October 2023, these three standards replaced 10 complex targets to focus on faster, better care.