§ Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what progress is being made in the development of services for(a) the prevention and (b) the treatment of prostate cancer; [85323]
(2) what plans he has for developments in the treatment of prostate cancer; [85325]
(3) what steps are being taken to educate men about the possible early signs of prostate cancer; [85324]
(4) what assessment he has made of likely trends in the incidence of prostate cancer in men over the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [85322]
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§ Mr. HuttonThere are about 15,000 cases and 8,000 deaths each year from prostate cancer. Over the latest five-year period for which data is available (1987–92), incidence rates for prostate cancer for men of all ages increased by 25 per cent. in England. However, past trends do not necessarily predict future changes.
The Government are committed to improving the prevention, detection and treatment of prostate cancer. There is, as yet, no consensus of medical opinion about the correct management of early localised tumours. The choice is between radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy. The Health Technology Assessment programme has already funded two systematic reviews of the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer and the National Co-ordinating Centre for the HTA programme is commissioning a £200,000 study at the University of Bristol on the feasibility of conducting a multi-centre randomised trial of treatment for localised prostate cancer.
On 20 May my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister set out a plan of action to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. As well as £60 million invested directly into services for breast, bowel and lung cancer, the Prime Minister announced an additional £150 million of lottery money to support a new programme of cancer prevention, detection, treatment and care over the next three years.
The Department provides advice to the public, in leaflets and through health education campaigns, which advise on signs of possible cancer and encourage early reporting of these to a general practitioner or other health professionals. This includes providing funding for promotional material used within the United Kingdom for the "Europe Against Cancer" programme. A different cancer-related theme is chosen each year. The theme for 1998 was "Cancer in Men".
§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made in targeting resources on prostate cancer treatment. [85002]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Government are committed to improving the prevention, detection and treatment of prostate cancer. The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme has already funded two systematic reviews of the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer and the National Co-ordinating Centre for the HTA programme is commissioning a £200,000 study at the University of Bristol looking at the feasibility of conducting a multi-centre randomised trail of treatment for localised prostate cancer.