Labour MP Dr Peter Prinsley has been elected Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Prostate Cancer, pledging to work across Parliament to improve awareness, earlier diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for thousands of men and families affected by the disease.
The Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket MP announced his election on Wednesday, saying he was “delighted” to take on the role.
Prinsley said:
“Prostate cancer affects thousands of people and families every year, and I look forward to working across Parliament to improve awareness, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.”
The APPG brings together MPs and peers from different political parties to scrutinise prostate cancer policy and campaign for improvements in early diagnosis, treatment, care and survival. Its secretariat is jointly provided by Prostate Cancer UK and Prostate Cancer Research.
One in eight men diagnosed
Prostate cancer is one of the most significant health challenges facing men in Britain.
According to the APPG, around 55,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year, while approximately 12,000 die from the disease annually.
Around one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, with the risk significantly higher among Black men.
The group has made tackling inequalities in diagnosis and treatment a central part of its work.
Its stated purpose is to raise awareness in Parliament and press for policies that improve “equitable early diagnosis, treatment, care and survival” for people with prostate cancer. Prinsley is listed as chair and registered contact.
Prinsley brings medical experience to role
Prinsley brings considerable frontline medical experience to the position.
Before entering Parliament, he worked for decades as an NHS doctor and consultant surgeon, giving him first-hand experience of the pressures facing patients, clinicians and the wider health service.
He has already been active on prostate cancer issues in Parliament and was elected as a vice-chair of the APPG in February 2025. At that meeting, parliamentarians discussed identifying men at greatest risk and reducing inequalities in diagnosis, particularly among Black men.
He is also involved in wider parliamentary work on health, including serving on the Health Bill committee and as an officer of the APPG for Healthcare Workers.
Focus on earlier diagnosis
Early diagnosis is particularly important because prostate cancer can often be successfully treated when detected before it has spread.
The APPG has been campaigning around improvements to testing, treatment and greater awareness of which groups face elevated risk.
Its recent work has also examined how the Government’s Men’s Health Strategy can better support men living with prostate cancer and how treatment side-effects can be more effectively managed.
Prinsley’s election as chair gives Labour an experienced medical voice leading cross-party parliamentary efforts on the issue.
His message is that prostate cancer should remain high on the political agenda — with Parliament working across party lines to ensure more men are diagnosed earlier, receive the best possible treatment and have a better chance of surviving the disease.
