The NHS has been instructed to reassess its guidelines on prostate cancer testing following a compelling appeal from Sir Chris Hoy, the Olympic cycling champion who is battling terminal cancer. Hoy, who has a family history of prostate cancer, urged men to consult their GPs for a blood test, even if they are under 50. "If you have a family history of prostate cancer, like I do, and you are over the age of 45, go and speak to your doctor," Hoy advised in an interview with the BBC.

Currently, NHS guidelines in England stipulate that anyone over the age of 50 can request a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. Health Secretary Wes Streeting responded to Hoy's comments, acknowledging the strength of his argument. "I believe he makes a compelling case," Streeting said. "That's why I've asked the NHS to consider lowering the screening age for prostate cancer, especially in cases with a family history."

Streeting's directive is expected to provoke debate among medical professionals. The UK does not have a national screening program for prostate cancer due to the lack of a reliable test that can detect the disease at an early stage. Previous research on the PSA test for asymptomatic individuals has shown only a marginal reduction in prostate cancer deaths. Additionally, some men are diagnosed with prostate cancer that may not have required treatment.

Hoy, who is living with terminal prostate cancer, emphasized the importance of early detection. Both his grandfather and father had prostate cancer. He argued that men should be screened at a younger age to catch the disease before it necessitates major treatment. "It seems like a straightforward decision to me. Lower the age limit and allow more men to get a blood test," Hoy said. He hopes that his story will inspire men to ask their GPs for a PSA test, creating enough demand to prompt a change in policy that could save millions of lives in the long term.

Prostate Cancer UK recommends that black men or those with a family history of prostate cancer should consider speaking to their GP about a PSA test from the age of 45. Men of any age with symptoms can request a test. Those with a brother or father diagnosed with prostate cancer are 2.5 times more likely to develop the disease, with the risk increasing significantly if the relative was under 60 when diagnosed.

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