The North East and Yorkshire have the highest proportion of late diagnosis in England when it comes to prostate cancer diagnosis, a leading organisation has warned.

More than one-in-five (20.1%) men with prostate cancer are diagnosed with metastatic disease – when cancer spreads to other body parts – compared to just one-in-eight (12.5%) in London.

The latest National Prostate Cancer Audit (NPCA) reports show a significantly higher risk for men in more deprived areas being diagnosed too late for a cure.

The Northern Echo spoke to Craig Carr and Nick Lambert, two men from the North East recently diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer.

Read more: North East men talk of shocking prostate cancer diagnosis

Mr Carr, from Whitley Bay,  stressed that it was “difficult” to say if there is a North and South divide and could only speak of his experience.

The Northern Echo: Craig Carr Picture: PROSTATE CANCER UKCraig Carr Picture: PROSTATE CANCER UK (Image: Picture: PROSTATE CANCER UK)

He added: “In terms of awareness, I didn’t know what a prostate was to be honest with you.

“I read Bill Turnball’s story, this is about three or four years ago now, he had an article in one of the papers and I read it during my lunch.

“I then went and had a test off the back of that, and then the eventual thing was that it was positive, then I had a biopsy and then I had confirmed cancer and the prostate was removed.”

However, he argued that he didn’t know whether it was better in the North East or South.

Mr Carr stressed that he “couldn’t have asked for any faster or better service” after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Read more: New 30-second online risk checker to detect prostate cancer

He added: “I have seen the press-release from prostate awareness and I know that’s what they’re saying so I would believe that that’s probably the case.”

Nick Lambert, from Jesmond in Newcastle, said that he agreed there was a North and South divide but argued that the divide was actually in favour of the North East.

The Northern Echo: Picture: PROSTATE CANCER UKPicture: PROSTATE CANCER UK (Image: Picture: PROSTATE CANCER UK)

He added: “I have to say my experiences have all been very favourable, I followed some advice from a friend to get myself checked.

“The most difficult thing was getting myself an appointment with the GP, this was a couple of years ago really just as it was possible to get in-person appointments with GPs during one of those lulls in the pandemic.

“But once I’d persuaded my GP to take it seriously and give me a PSA test, I came back with a very high reading, I managed to get a two-week appointment at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

“To be honest I really can’t fault them, I think I’ve had extremely good service and that goes back to May 2021, around 2 years ago.

Read more: North East men talk of shocking prostate cancer diagnosis

“Certainly the North East cancer care centre has been absolutely fantastic.”

Prostate Cancer UK is calling for action to tackle these health inequalities - particularly in the North-East, Yorkshire, and other badly-hit regions – by encouraging men across the country to use its 30-second online risk checker to help them understand their risk and what they can do about it.

Lauar Kerby, chief executive at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “This postcode lottery for cancer diagnosis simply isn’t fair, and the picture in the North-East and Yorkshire is especially worrying.

“Every man should get an equal chance of a cure, which is only possible if his cancer is caught early.

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“Unfortunately, early prostate cancer usually doesn’t have any symptoms, which is why men need to be aware of their risk and should take our online risk checker to find out more.

“If you’re at higher risk – which includes all men over 50 – you're entitled to a free PSA blood test from your GP.

“Because of their higher risk, we strongly recommend that Black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer should speak to their GP from the age of 45.”