Former UK prime minister David Cameron has revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer – an announcement that has reignited global conversations about men’s health and the importance of early detection.
Cameron, 58, told The Times that he only sought testing after his wife, Samantha, urged him to get checked. The couple had been listening to Soho House founder Nick Jones describe his own prostate-cancer experience on the radio – a moment Cameron now credits with prompting a life-saving decision. A PSA test, MRI scan and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis.
“You always dread hearing those words,” he said. “As they’re coming out of the doctor’s mouth you’re thinking, ‘Oh no … he’s going to say it.’ And then he says it.”
Although the former PM is private about his health, he says the experience has motivated him to advocate for targeted prostate-cancer screening programs. “Men are not very good at talking about their health. We put things off. We’re embarrassed to talk about something like the prostate,” he said. “But this is something we’ve really got to think about, talk about, and act on.”
Cameron underwent focal therapy – an approach that uses electrical pulses to destroy cancer cells – and is recovering well. His story now acts as a powerful reminder to men worldwide: prostate cancer rarely announces itself with early symptoms, and ignoring the issue won’t make it go away.
Why Cameron’s story matters for Australian men
While Cameron is speaking to a UK audience, his message lands just as urgently here in Australia.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare:
Around 25,500 Australian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2025,
More than 3,500 will die from it, making it one of the leading causes of cancer death in older men.
For men aged 60-plus, prostate cancer is the number one most diagnosed cancer nationwide.
What makes prostate cancer especially challenging is that early stages often produce no symptoms. Many men only seek help when the cancer has already advanced.
That’s why experts continually stress the importance of screening – particularly for:
Men over 50,
Men over 40 with a family history, and
Men of African ancestry, who are at higher risk.
PSA testing: Why it matters
Like the UK, Australia does not offer a national population-wide prostate-cancer screening program. However, PSA testing remains a widely available and effective early-detection tool when used appropriately.
A simple blood test measures prostate-specific antigen levels. While the test isn’t perfect, it can detect abnormalities long before symptoms appear – giving men far better treatment outcomes.
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia:
When prostate cancer is detected early, 95 per cent of men survive at least five years.
When found late, survival drops dramatically.
This is why Cameron’s message resonates so strongly: detection is everything.
Australian men and the “silent” health problem
Cameron was blunt when speaking about men’s tendency to avoid health conversations:
“We’re embarrassed. We put things off,” he said.
Australian research paints the same picture. Studies consistently show:
Men are far less likely than women to visit their GP,
Many men avoid tests that feel “awkward” or “embarrassing”,
Health issues are often dismissed as “just getting older”.
But prostate cancer doesn’t care about embarrassment.
A quick conversation with a GP, a referral for a PSA test, and a simple scan may be all it takes to catch cancer early enough to treat before major harm is done.
A wake-up call worth listening to
Just days before Cameron’s announcement, the UK launched a major new trial into improved screening techniques – reflecting growing international momentum toward better prostate-cancer detection.
In Australia, health groups continue to encourage men to understand their risks, learn their family history, and have open conversations with their doctors.
Cameron hopes his experience will prompt others to take that step sooner rather than later:
“This is a moment to have another look at how we find and treat prostate cancer. The arguments are changing.”
For Australian men – particularly those over 60 – the takeaway is clear:
Don’t wait. Don’t guess. Get tested.
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