Prostate Cancer

Lord Watson of Wyre Forest Excerpts

Wednesday 3rd September 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Lab)]

The Lord is absolutely correct. It was not much fun, was it? I speak as someone who is recovering from prostate cancer. Nearly two years on—so far, so good—I am under active surveillance. I was treated early because of my wise and gentle GP, Dr Nazeer, who has just entered his 60th year in the National Health Service. He gave me his time and his patience, and he cajoled me to rid myself of type 2 diabetes, and after that insisted on giving me an annual blood test. That is how I was diagnosed early.

It is obvious to me that in a civilised society we should allow our GPs to have a conversation with men about what the testing regime should be, particularly those high-risk groups. So I thank the noble Lord for bringing up an important subject that means a great deal to tens of thousands of men and their families in this country, and I know the Minister will have heard very deeply what he had to say today.