David Cameron, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has publicly disclosed that he has been treated for prostate cancer and is now using his platform to advocate for a targeted screening programme.

In an interview published on 23 November 2025, Cameron described how he took a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which returned a high result, followed by an MRI that revealed suspicious areas and a biopsy that confirmed the diagnosis.

He underwent focal therapy—a minimally invasive treatment using electrical pulses to destroy cancerous tissue—after which he said he remains optimistic about his prognosis.

Prompted by his wife Samantha after hearing about another diagnosis on the radio, Cameron initiated the process of testing.

He recounted the emotional moment when the doctor delivered the diagnosis: “You have a high PSA score – that’s probably nothing … then when the biopsy comes back and it says you have got prostate cancer … you always dread hearing those words.” He said the experience convinced him that the time has come to reconsider screening: “The circumstances are changing.

The arguments are changing, and so it’s a really good moment to have another look at this.”

Cameron emphasised that men are often reluctant to discuss their health, and he insisted that his personal disclosure is intended to encourage others to act.

He stated: “I’ve got a platform.

This is something we’ve really got to think about, talk about, and if necessary, act on.” His call aligns with the agenda of charities and research groups that are pressing for a screening programme, particularly for men at higher risk such as those of Black African or Caribbean heritage, or with a family history of prostate cancer.

Currently, the United Kingdom does not operate a national prostate-cancer screening programme.

The UK National Screening Committee has repeatedly held that evidence on standard PSA testing did not demonstrate a clear enough benefit over harm, citing concerns about false positives, over-diagnosis and unnecessary treatment.

However, cutting-edge research such as the TRANSFORM trial—backed by £42 million and launched in late 2025—aims to evaluate newer methods combining PSA, genetic risk scores and MRI imaging to make pioneering screening more accurate and effective.

Cameron’s advocacy may hit a critical moment as the UK seeks to determine national policy.

If the screening debate shifts, UK health services may move toward offering targeted screening for high-risk men using improved diagnostics and imaging.

Cameron’s experience and public voice are expected to add momentum to what campaigners argue is a pivotal juncture in prostate-cancer early-detection policy.

His message is clear: early awareness, testing and evolving technology now make it possible to act, and the time to revisit screening has arrived.