SHIFT Newsroom · England
Prostate Progress: understanding the NHS research invitation
UK archive · Original report: 1 August 2026. Men with current or past prostate cancer are being invited to share their experiences and link records for research. This is not a screening invitation.
UK archive review · 13 September 2026. Original source: 1 August 2026. This article revisits a UK development; it is not a new announcement today.
Who the announcement concerns
NHS England announced plans to contact half a million men who have had, or are living with, prostate cancer. Prostate Progress is led by Prostate Cancer Research, with NHS DigiTrials supporting recruitment.
Participants are asked to complete questionnaires about life with the disease and consent to linkage with NHS records for approved research. The aim is to connect treatment information with experiences that a routine medical record may not fully capture.
It is different from screening
This invitation is directed at men with a history of prostate cancer. It is not an offer of a test to men without a diagnosis, nor a promise of a new treatment. The half-million figure describes planned contact, not confirmed enrolment.
The programme particularly wants better representation of Black men. Representation matters to the questions research can answer; it should not become pressure on any individual to take part.
Before agreeing to share information
Our suggested questions concern the time commitment, how data are linked, who can access them and what happens if you later withdraw. Ask whether you will receive research updates and whether individual findings will be returned.
You may also want to discuss how questionnaires handle sensitive matters such as fatigue, relationships or treatment side effects. These are reasonable questions about participation, not objections that need to be overcome.
Check the programme information linked from the NHS announcement and use its official contact route. Taking part can contribute to future evidence while remaining entirely separate from decisions about your own ongoing cancer care.
Related UK reporting
TRANSFORM: better representation in UK prostate screening research
Known facts
- Men with current or past prostate cancer are being invited to share their experiences and link records for research. This is not a screening invitation.