Screening saved my life
When he and his wife went for an extensive health check through Vitality, prostate cancer was not on James’s radar at all - however it just so happened to help him detect it early. Thankfully, he’s now on the road to recovery. Here, he tells Vitality Magazine his story
Even before King Charles was diagnosed with cancer following treatment for an enlarged prostate or news broke about Kate Middleton’s abdominal surgery earlier this year, the life-changing importance of cancer screening was already making headlines.
Back in November 2022, the NHS revealed that the number of people having treatment for prostate cancer jumped by more than a quarter in one year. Driven in no small part by its nationwide campaign in partnership with Prostate Cancer UK, which promoted the use of its prostate risk checker tool.
Diagnoses for high profile celebrities, such as Stephen Fry and a plot line in UK soap Eastenders also helped bring attention to the most common cancer among people with a prostate – a diagnosis that affects 1 in 8 in the UK.
will be diagnosed with prostate cancer
Getting to it early
Like any cancer, survival is greatly improved the earlier it’s caught. And while there is no national screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK, the government is launching a research programme to help establish one.
Currently, a blood test for prostate-specific antigen (known as PSA) remains the most common means of detecting it. However, because this type of cancer can often take a long time to develop with no immediate symptoms, it can be hard to detect through blood tests alone.
For 62-year-old Vitality member James, it wasn’t something that was on his radar.
After taking out a health insurance plan with Vitality in early 2023, he and his wife decided to take the opportunity to undergo an extensive screening, available to him through his plan.
When James’s results revealed he had a high PSA reading, he was advised to book a Vitality GP appointment to discuss the next steps.
“I quickly made an appointment with the Vitality GP online and they had all my test results in front of them. The GP advised me to have more follow-up tests.”
Vitality member, James
‘I didn’t turn to Dr Google’
Following further investigation, a biopsy confirmed the presence of cancer. But because it had been picked up so early, the outlook was positive.
After being given several treatment options, including surgery or radiotherapy through the NHS, James was able to call upon Vitality’s specialist cancer team to guide him through the options.
“The cancer nurse from Vitality, who’s main area of interest was prostate cancer, was tremendous,” he says.
“I was able to see the consultant and ask relevant questions. I didn’t have to turn to ‘Dr Google’, and I felt a lot more in control.”
Guided by a specialist cancer nurse along the way, James was able to make a more informed decision about his treatment, which on this occasion was provided by the NHS with extra support from Vitality. Rather than, as he describes it, needing to “take a stab in the dark”.
‘I wasn’t alone’
It was not only early detection, access to a GP and appropriate treatment guidance he got through his health insurance, he also received advice on lifestyle choices and physical activity along the way through Vitality's Cancer Support Programme powered by Alvie.
“The cancer support team spoke to me about things like nutrition to help with recovery, or the side effects of treatment, so I knew what was coming. The fear was taken away,” he reflects.
“They also sent me a package in the post with a blanket and a few other things. That brought me to tears. I just felt I wasn’t alone on this journey.”
The road to recovery
James’s treatment finished at the end of 2023 and he is now on the road to recovery, looking forward to getting back to work and on with his life.
“I’m in a good place now, mentally and physically and much improved. Vitality offered me a couple of days at a health resort (Champneys), which I might take up.”
James’ hope is that through sharing his story, more people will get themselves checked, not just for prostate cancer, but to build a picture of their overall health more generally.
“That screening ultimately could have saved my life, because I wouldn’t have gone for that screening were it not for my health insurance. I didn’t see it as important. Now I see it as vital.”
Read more about what to expect from a full health MOT here.
When should you get screened for prostate cancer?
Source: Prostate Cancer UK
Ask Dr Rosie
We asked a Vitality doctor to tell us what we need to know about prostate cancer
1
Prostate cancer is common
One of the most common cancers in the UK, one in eight people with a prostate are diagnosed each year. Primarily seen as condition in over 65s, it can affect those who are younger too.
2
It can be difficult to diagnose
Early on, it often has no symptoms, or can subtly mimic other conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which tend to be put down to just getting older! That's why it's so important to assess your individual risk and see your GP if you develop any urinary symptoms.
3
Thankfully, most people survive!
For those who catch it early, there is a good chance of a positive outcome. And for very early stages, often no treatment is needed at all, but instead a 'wait and see' approach is taken to see whether it gets worse.
Source: Prostate Cancer UK
To help support early detection of cancer, Vitality members with a qualifying health plan can access a cancer risk assessment through our partner Check4Cancer, which can identify if you are at higher risk of five common cancers – bowel, breast, cervical, prostate and skin cancers.
This can be done through Care Hub on by visiting the and you don’t need a referral to access this care. If you'd like to know more about services available through your plan, visit Member Zone or Vitality app to find out more.
