Prime Minister Theresa May has announced £75m of funding to research a means of diagnosing prostate cancer earlier.

Speaking on a visit to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge on Tuesday, she said that earlier diagnosis would mean better treatments and better outcomes for men.

It is hoped that 40,000 men will be recruited to new research projects with the cash boost.

Theresa May is shown the advanced radiotherapy system during her visit to Addenbrooke’s (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)
Theresa May is shown the advanced radiotherapy system during her visit to Addenbrooke’s (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

“I think it’s very important that we put this focus on prostate cancer,” Ms May said. “One in eight men in the UK will be affected by prostate cancer and this money that we’re putting in, the £75m, will be funding research.

“Forty thousand men across the UK will be taking part in that research and what we want to find is a means of earlier diagnosis.

“I think this is very important as, of course, the earlier you diagnose then the better the treatment can be and the better the prognosis.”

Officials said the new studies will particularly target men who are at higher risk of the disease including black men, men over the age of 50 and those with a family history of the disease.

During the visit Ms May was shown the hospital’s radiography department and met staff.

She described Addenbrooke’s as a “key centre” for treating cancer, and said she spoke to staff about spreading best practice.

She acknowledged the “winter pressures” the hospital has experienced, and thanked staff for their efforts.

She added: “We prepared better than any previous winter, we put extra money into the NHS over that period of time but now I want to look at a long-term plan for the NHS with multi-year funding so that we can ensure that we are giving the best, most effective treatment to patients.”