Former British prime minister David Cameron says he has been treated for prostate cancer.
Lord Cameron said the cancer was picked up after a prostate check his wife insisted he go for earlier this year, he told The Times.
He said he had a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, an MRI scan and a biopsy.
The results from the PSA test, which looks for proteins associated with prostate cancer, showed it was high in his case.
The biopsy showed he had prostate cancer, to which Lord Cameron said, "You always dread hearing those words."
He was subsequently treated with focal therapy, which uses energy to destroy only the cancerous parts of the prostate.
Lord Cameron served as the UK's prime minister from 2010 to 2016 and resigned after a referendum supported the country leaving the European Union.
Using his 'platform'
Prostate cancer is estimated to be the most common cancer diagnosed in males in Australia, with 29,000 cases in 2025.
Lord Cameron told The Time he wanted to use his "platform" to promote a call by charity Prostate Cancer Research for screening to be offered to high-risk men in the UK.
"I don't particularly like discussing my personal intimate health issues, but I feel I ought to," Lord Cameron said.
"Let's be honest. Men are not very good at talking about their health. We tend to put things off.
"I sort of thought, 'Well, this has happened to you, and you should lend your voice to it.'"
Currently there is no screening program for prostate cancer in the UK, nor is there one in Australia.
Lord Cameron is not the only former British prime minister backing the call for prostate cancer screening either. Rishi Sunak put forward his support for it in October this year.
In Australia, the Cancer Council says "there is still confusion around PSA testing for prostate cancer".
