So read a headline in the I on Thursday 16th January which went on to say:

"The number of men dying from prostate cancer in the UK has hit a record high, figures have shown. Statistics revealed that there were 12,031 deaths from the disease in 2017 - the most recent figures available - up from 11,637 the year before and 11,307 in 2014. In 2017, 48,561 men were newly diagnosed, with prostate cancer, up from 48,523 the year before and 47,864 in 2014. Only 47 percent of men are diagnosed at an early stage, while men whose cancer was thought to be curable can often see it return, The broadcaster Bill Turnbull said "As someone whose prostate cancer was diagnosed once it had spread, I'm all too aware of how important it is that we find ways to improve diagnosis and treatment so that in future lives are not cut short by the disease"

What more can we say? Yet more evidence of the need for an NHS screening programme.

In the meantime PLEASE help us spread the word about the importance of early diagnosis - currently best achieved by a PSA testing programme.

Please visit mypsatests.org.uk for a full list of upcoming testing sessions.