BLOKES can get checked for prostate cancer in a “Man Van” touring building sites and GP car parks.
The mobile health unit hopes to boost diagnosis in fellas who avoid the doctor.
In a pilot scheme, 14 chaps out of 600 — one in 40 — were diagnosed with the disease that might not have been otherwise.
The van will now visit 4,000 men across London and may eventually roll out nationally.
Olukayode Dada, 60, who was diagnosed during the van’s test run, said: “If it hadn’t been for the van, I wouldn’t have known I have cancer. I had no symptoms whatsoever.”
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The van also checks for other cancers, diabetes and high blood pressure.
More than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK each year and there are more than 12,000 deaths.
The disease is very treatable if caught early, but Prostate Cancer UK says up to one in three men are diagnosed too late.
Professor Nick James, of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, from the team who devised the “Man Van” for the Royal Marsden NHS Trust, said: "These pilot results, while based on small numbers, indicate the van could improve healthcare access for a range of issues faced by men.
“It could also help target those at highest risk of prostate cancer, potentially speeding up detection of the disease.
“Early detection of cancer can transform survival rates and boost people’s chances of being cured.”
The van has a built-in clinic space where, if appropriate, men are given a blood test to check prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels
Raised PSA levels can be indicative of cancer, but not always.
Chiara De Biase of Prostate Cancer UK, added: “Prostate cancer diagnosis has been badly hit by the pandemic.
“We welcome new initiatives aiming to tackle this and encourage men to be more aware of their health.”
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Mobile cancer screening is already widely used by the NHS to check for breast tumours.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS director for cancer, said: “Thanks to NHS awareness campaigns we are seeing record numbers of people coming forward for cancer checks and - and the ‘man van’ is another example of ways the NHS is going into local communities to help speed up detection of cancer.
“The NHS is treated increasing numbers of men with prostate cancer – with over 2,500 more men having started treatment over the last year – and we know early detection is vital so if you are concerned about your health, please come forward for care.”
