Keir Starmer has signalled his determination to tackle prostate cancer after Rishi Sunak challenged him to take action.
The former Tory Prime Minister urged his successor to back calls for a national screening programme targeting the most at-risk men in an effort to catch cases early and reduce deaths.
Mr Sunak this week became an ambassador for Prostate Cancer Research (PCR) and told the Mail his decision to publicly support the cause was prompted by friends being diagnosed with the disease, the most common type of cancer for men in the UK with 55,000 new cases a year.
Mr Sunak was in Government when he announced with PCR a £42 million screening trial to find ways of detecting prostate cancer earlier.
But it is hoped a nationwide screening programme would be the most effective tool yet at preventing unnecessary deaths from the disease.
Speaking in the Commons at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Sunak said: ‘We made progress towards this in Government but yet there is more to do.
‘Could I ask the PM to ensure we do have a targeted national screening programme for the most at-risk groups of prostate cancer, so that we can not only save the NHS money, make progress towards the Govt’s early diagnosis targets but most crucially save thousands of lives.’
Sir Keir thanked Mr Sunak for ‘using his authority and reputation to support this vital cause’.
In a marked departure from the hostilities typical at the Despatch Box, he said the Government ‘shares the commitment’ to detecting prostate cancer earlier and treating it faster, and was working on reforming the NHS to help achieve that.
He added: ‘Our National Cancer Plan will improve the way we treat cancer right across the country, and I will make sure he is fully informed of the steps we are taking and will work with him.’
Mr Sunak last week toured the headquarters of Oxford BioDynamics, where he met scientists working on the firm’s next-generation blood test reckoned to help significantly improve detection rates.
And a new, targeted testing programme would invite black men and any man aged 45 and over with a familial history of the disease to give a blood sample for analysis, with results expected within days.
The UK National Screening Council (NSC) ruled out a roll-out five years ago amid concerns over test accuracy.
But it has come under increasing pressure to reconsider the policy.
Experts reckon the rollout could save the NHS more than £50 million a year.
PCR spokesman David James said: ‘We welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to improving earlier detection and treatment of prostate cancer.
‘With prostate cancer now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK, urgent action is needed.
‘We look forward to working with the Prime Minister to ensure this is a key priority in the forthcoming National Cancer Plan and the UK National Screening Committee’s review.’