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Prostate cancer is the now the most common cancer in the UK - with an estimated one in eight men being diagnosed in their lifetime.

However, early testing can identify the cancer (which is curable) at its most treatable stage.

A local hospital surgeon who has long been championing the need for testing is has rallied her team to support a community testing session on September 5. 

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust surgeon Jyoti Shah MBE and colleagues have been invited to the Eaton Socon Health Centre in St Neots, where they will test at least 100 men who have already agreed to, or have shown an interest, and signed up for the event.

And Miss Shah believes this could lead to a world record of the most men tested and examined for prostate cancer at one location in one day. 

The high number follows a request for local men to come forward to be tested in a campaign supported by St Neots Prostate Cancer Support Group and St Neot's based Purple Horizons- a volunteer-run Community Interest Company created by six local mums who wanted to do something positive with their time, energy and interests. 

The PSA blood tests typically cost £3.50 each - and the cost of these is being met by North West Anglia Hospitals' Charity. 

All patients seen will be registered onto the hospital system and Miss Shah and her team will be checking individual medical history and carrying out the blood tests and physical examination - all free and conducted voluntarily. Patients will then be formally contacted with their results (which will also be sent to their GP) along with any follow up information. 

Miss Shah said: “Prostate cancer is a silent killer, but it is a cancer that we can cure if we pick it up early enough. It is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with one in eight being diagnosed as some point in their lives - and for men from an Afro-Caribbean heritage, the risk is one in four.

“A lot of men like to bury their head in the sand when it comes to their health. They are often too busy to go to their doctor or to access the relevant services.

“But because prostate cancer often doesn't have any symptoms - they won't appreciate the need to go and get checked for a problem that effectively doesn't exist. However, because there are no signs, that doesn't mean that it's not there.

“I am so very proud of and thankful to my team for their dedication and giving their time to support this important community event - and to our Hospitals' Charity for meeting the cost of the PSA tests.”

The current registered GuinnessWorld Records for men signing up for testing in eight hours is 258 in Egypt in 2024 as part of an awareness campaign. 

The Trust's award-winning team - lead by Miss Jyoti Shah MBE - will be part of the world record attempt of the most men tested and examined for prostate cancer at one location in one day.