Taking a ‘Man Van’ offering prostate cancer checks to shoppers and football fans could speed up detection of the disease, leading experts have found.

A study has found that giving men access to cancer screening where they go – such as shops and football clubs – encourages them to come forward for tests.

Men at high risk of prostate cancer, including black men and those from deprived areas, can also be more easily targeted with a mobile van, which is cheaper than GP visits, experts said.

It comes after Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy, who has terminal cancer, called on men with a family history of the disease and those at high risk to visit their GP early for a blood test prostate specific antigen (PSA).

The charity Prostate Cancer UK advises black people – who are twice as likely to contract the disease – or those with a family history of prostate cancer to speak to their GP about having a PSA test from 45 years old.

In the new study, experts wanted to tackle the fact that cases of prostate cancer are detected later – when they are less treatable – in highly deprived areas and in ethnic minority communities.

They sent a mobile ‘Man Van’ testing unit to target at-risk groups in London, working with local hospitals and community leaders to raise awareness.

The project successfully reached black men, who made up 16% of all van visitors, and detected more problem cancers – 86% – compared to other screening studies (50%).

Researchers estimated that using the vans could cost up to 25% less than men going to their GP for screening, with costs falling from £68.41 via the GP to £51.11 via the van.

The Man Van Project was developed by a group including the Institute of Cancer Research in London (ICR) and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.

The nurse-led van was parked in seven locations across London with minority ethnic communities and/or higher levels of deprivation, at sites such as a football club, a community centre, outside Ikea , a health center and a town hall.

More than 3,000 men visited the Man Van over the course of a year.

Of the 94 prostate cancers detected via the PSA test, 81 (86%) were clinically significant, meaning treatment was likely needed to prevent the disease from progressing.

In other screening studies, 50% of cancers detected are clinically significant, meaning men are at risk of being sent for unnecessary treatment.

In addition to the PSA test, men visiting the van had their blood pressure, body mass index and diabetes risk checked, with men being told if they had diabetes or were at high risk.

Researchers suggest the Man Van model – combining education and awareness with health checks – should be introduced into the NHS.

The NHS already runs mobile testing units for some other illnesses, including lung cancer.

Dr Masood Moghul, Clinical Research Fellow at the Royal Marsden and ICR, said: “This is the first evidence-based assessment of how mobile testing units could tackle health inequalities. health, reaching groups who have historically been diagnosed with cancer at a later stage. it’s more difficult to treat.

“The high number of black men we reached and the proportion of problematic but treatable prostate cancers we detected – in areas where typically 25% of men have incurable cancers – show the success of this outreach model target. »

Professor Nick James, also from Marsden and the ICR, said: “Early diagnosis of cancer is very important because it is much easier to treat, but some cancers do not show any symptoms until they become have been developing for some time.

“It is disproportionately people living in deprived areas and from ethnic minorities whose cancer is detected late, when it is more likely to be fatal.

“To detect these cancers early, we need to proactively help people by offering health checks.

“As debate continues over the best method of screening for prostate cancer – one that will not lead to overtreatment or fail to detect people with deadly cancers – we must improve access to health care for people at higher risk of disease.

“These results show that our Man Van is a very powerful model that should be considered for wider use across the country. »

Jonathan Gordon, 55, from Shepperton, Middlesex, had an aggressive cancer diagnosed via the van. His treatment was a success.

He said: “My father had prostate cancer when he was 60, but until I saw Man Van on the news I didn’t know it meant I was at high risk.

“I immediately booked myself a test in the van… I went to Chelsea Football Club to get my appointment.

“If I hadn’t seen that ad on the news about the Man Van, I very much doubt I would have taken a PSA test and I really don’t know where I would be now. It definitely saved my life.

The UK National Screening Committee does not currently recommend a population-based prostate cancer screening program using PSA testing, although it is carrying out a review of the available evidence.

The PSA level may also be increased due to conditions that are not cancer, such as urinary tract infections or benign prostatic enlargement. The PSA test may also miss some prostate cancers.