Awareness of health conditions often spikes when prominent figures speak out. We've seen this with Dame Deborah James and bowel cancer, and more recently with Sir Chris Hoy and prostate cancer.
Since his diagnosis, Sir Chris has campaigned for a better screening programme for men. Last year, the government asked its national screening committee to review current policies, with results expected later this year.
The committee could recommend a range of options – from leaving the programme as it is, to targeting high-risk groups, or rolling it out more widely. Early indications suggest the first and last options are less likely.
Whatever the outcome, there will be implications for the NHS. One concern is the risk of over-treatment, which can accompany increased awareness – a positive development, but not without challenges.
Unlike some cancers, certain prostate cancers are very low risk and may never spread. Current research suggests that for these cases, "active monitoring" rather than surgery or other interventions is usually the safest approach.
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