UK Men Are Skipping NHS Delays and Cutting Costs by Choosing Prostate Cancer Treatment in India

For many men in the UK, the next step after a prostate cancer diagnosis is shaped not only by the actual diagnosis (often a 2-week wait), but also by NHS waiting lists to get treatment. This can be many months. In a disease where early action can significantly improve outcomes, delays and the alternative high financial burden of private care can add uncertainty and emotional strain at an already vulnerable moment.

Prostate cancer is one of the fastest-growing cancer diagnoses worldwide, particularly among men over the age of 50. According to a global epidemiological review published in the peer-reviewed journal Uro (MDPI), prostate cancer is expected to be over 5 million by 2027, making it a major health concern across both developed and developing countries. In the UK, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. According to Prostate Cancer UK's Data & Evidence library, more than 63,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year, around 12,000 men die from the disease annually, and approximately 510,000 men are currently living with or after a prostate cancer diagnosis. The organisation also reports that around 1 in 8 men in the UK will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. While survival rates have improved significantly with early diagnosis, many UK patients face a different challenge after being diagnosed: navigating the realities of prostate cancer treatment in the UK.

Prostate cancer treatment in the UK follows established clinical guidelines by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), with treatment decisions based on the cancer stage, PSA levels, Gleason score, overall health, and patient preference. Understanding the best treatment options available is often the first question patients ask after diagnosis.

Although treatment options are well established, NHS waiting times can significantly influence the pace of prostate cancer care.

Long NHS waiting times for prostate cancer are increasingly shaping how and where patients choose to be treated. Even high-profile individuals like British music icon Sir Cliff Richard, who only discovered his prostate cancer during a routine insurance health check and has since been successfully treated. This highlights the importance of early access to care, something that can be undermined by delays in the UK system. While national targets exist for cancer diagnosis and treatment, such as 75% of patients receiving a diagnosis within 28 days of urgent referral and 96% starting treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat, and 85% beginning treatment within 62 days of referral, rising demand means many patients experience delays at multiple stages. Recent data show that only around 68% of cancer patients currently start treatment within the 62-day target, with similar shortfalls for the 28-day diagnostic standard, highlighting that delays are common at several points, including GP referrals, diagnostic imaging, and biopsies.

Although prostate cancer often progresses slowly compared to other cancers, these delays can significantly impact physical health, mental well-being, increasing anxiety and uncertainty. These challenges have led many UK patients to seek faster treatment options, including private care or treatment abroad, to reduce delays and begin treatment sooner. As Dr Sukhdev Singh, GP, UK, explains: "For many men, the hardest part of a prostate cancer diagnosis isn't the treatment itself- it's the waiting. Even when the disease is slow-growing, prolonged uncertainty can take a real emotional toll and influence treatment choices." However, choosing faster access, whether through private care or treatment abroad, often introduces a new and critical consideration: the cost of prostate cancer treatment.

One of the most common concerns for patients is understanding prostate cancer treatment costs in the UK. Under the NHS, treatment is funded, meaning patients do not pay directly for surgery, radiotherapy, or hormone therapy. However, indirect costs such as travel to repeated appointments and delays in financial support can still be significant. Studies on cancer-related financial burden suggest that these indirect expenses can amount to several hundred pounds per month, with some patients facing total indirect costs of £2,000–£3,000 over the course of diagnosis and treatment delays, even within a publicly funded system.

Private prostate cancer treatment in the UK offers quicker access and a greater choice of specialists, but at a premium price. For example, private robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy, a minimally invasive surgery to remove the prostate, typically costs around £20,000 in the UK, while other private treatments like focal therapy (e.g., HIFU) and radiotherapy courses also fall into similar five-figure ranges. Overall, these expenses, combined with consultation fees, diagnostics, and follow-up care, can make private care financially challenging for many patients.

After understanding the two biggest barriers UK patients face, long waiting times and high UK private treatment costs, many begin to look for solutions that address both without compromising safety or outcomes. This is where India has emerged as a global destination for advanced cancer care. Many leading hospitals offer state-of-the-art oncology services, including robotic prostate surgery, modern radiotherapy technologies, and integrated multidisciplinary cancer teams. What reassures many international patients is that a large number of India's urologists and oncologists have trained or practised in the UK, bringing international standards of care together with India's accessibility and efficiency.

Medical travel for prostate cancer treatment involves far more than simply choosing a hospital overseas; it requires the healthcare planning in the UK with the right clinical expertise, robust safety standards, and seamless coordination throughout the care journey. For UK patients considering treatment abroad, selecting the right provider is critical, with factors such as specialist experience, hospital accreditation, and the ability to support international patients directly influencing both outcomes and confidence. This is where TMTC (The Medical Travel Company) plays a vital role. By partnering exclusively with JCI- and NABH-accredited hospitals in India, TMTC ensures care meets rigorous international quality and safety benchmarks. From identifying the most appropriate specialists to managing treatment coordination and post-treatment follow-up, TMTC supports patients end-to-end, allowing them to focus on recovery rather than logistics.

Through TMTC (The Medical Travel Company), UK patients are guided to carefully vetted treatment centres and specialists, ensuring internationally aligned protocols, transparent pricing, and timely access to care. Full aftercare with continuity of care on return to the UK with a private GP is essential to recovery. This TMTC-led approach allows patients to benefit from meaningful cost savings while maintaining confidence in both clinical outcomes and continuity of care.

Choosing the right prostate cancer treatment is about more than clinical outcomes alone. For UK patients, NHS waiting times, prostate cancer treatment costs in the UK, and limited access to faster care often influence decision-making. While the UK provides high-quality healthcare, system pressures have encouraged patients to explore alternative treatment options beyond traditional pathways.

By understanding prostate cancer treatment options for UK patients, comparing treatment in India vs the UK, and learning how medical travel works with trusted partners like TMTC, patients can make informed, confident decisions. Exploring overseas treatment can provide timely access to high-quality care, greater peace of mind, and the opportunity to begin treatment without unnecessary delays. To explore treatment options in India with TMTC, speak to our specialists today for a personalised care plan.