Forum Topic

I knew that Reform could not resist fluffing this one.

"Zia Yusuf has been monstered after he complained about black men being offered screening for prostate cancer.Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman said it was further evidence that the UK is a “two tier country” following the murder of Henry Nowak.The 18-year-old was arrested and handcuffed as he lay dying after being stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, who had falsely accused him of racism.Ministers announced earlier this week that black men aged between 45 and 74 will be offered prostate cancer screening because they have double the risk of contracting the disease compared to the general population.Reacting on X, Yusuf said: “On the day the whole political establishment claims we do not live in a two tier country, they announce this. Note, the NHS makes NO drugs available exclusively to white people.”However, social media users – including politicians from all parties – condemned Yusuf’s attempt to create racial division about a potentially life-saving NHS initiative.Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: “Are there any doctors who belong to Reform UK who can quetly tell Zia to stop being a wazzock about this stuff?”Labour MP and trained surgeon Dr Zubir Ahmed said: “How can someone as thick as you aspire to hold any form of public office? Please go and ask your father how medical screening works, it’s time you were educated.”Fellow Labour MP Luke Charters said: “What is wrong with you? Black men are at significantly higher risk of prostate cancer. This isn’t ‘two-tier Britain’. It’s basic medicine.”Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty advised Yusuf to speak to Dr David Bull, a GP who was until recently Reform’s chairman.Tory councillor Festus Akinbusoye said: “Bro. Have you lost your mind? Do you understand how targeted medical intervention works? What is wrong with you Zia? Seriously!”Other social media users joined in the near-universal condemnation of Yusuf’s remarks." (Huff Post today)

David Ainsworth ● 3d6 Comments

Isn't this just basic statistics, that black men of African ancestry are more likely to suffer from prostate cancer? Similarly, if a close family member has suffered from it then one's at a higher risk. It's probably genetic but I'm not sure that's been proven conclusively. Anyway, if one's in a high risk group you can request a PSA test. I always ask for one with along with other annual blood tests as a cousin has suffered prostate cancer.

Michael Ixer ● 1d

DA won’t be able to answer you.  He only started the thread in a feeble attempt to have a dig at Reform.

Sue Hammond ● 1d

Mr Ainsworth'Is the Transform prostate cancer study only on black men?''"No, the TRANSFORM prostate cancer screening trial is not only for Black men. It is a massive, landmark UK study designed to find the best way to screen all men at risk of prostate cancer, ***though it features a specific, expanded focus on Black men due to their significantly higher risk***.Why do black men run a higher risk ?Why do you think black men seem more reluctant than others to have this test ?(You can use AI to produce your answers if you like).Similarly why is it that black women are, I believe, said to have worse experiences and outcomes in childbirth than white women ?I have always found such facts strange as in my experience the majority of NHS hospital staff are non-white so why might they be prejudiced against or provide an inferior service to those who share their skin colour ?As someone with a colour blind attitude to such matters and grateful for any NHS provision delivered by whomsoever, I am bemused.

John Hawkes ● 1d

Fascinating😵‍💫

Sue Hammond ● 2d

Is the Transform prostate cancer study only on black men?"No, the TRANSFORM prostate cancer screening trial is not only for Black men. It is a massive, landmark UK study designed to find the best way to screen all men at risk of prostate cancer, though it features a specific, expanded focus on Black men due to their significantly higher risk.How the Trial Includes Different MenStage 1 (Underway): The initial phase of the trial invites hundreds of thousands of men from the general UK population. The trial explicitly mandates that at least 10% (1 in 10) of these invitees are Black men. This was intentionally designed to fix the historical lack of diverse data in cancer research.Stage 2 (Expansion): The UK government announced an additional £18 million in funding to dramatically expand the second stage of the trial. This expansion guarantees that all eligible Black men in the UK (aged 45–74 who haven't had a recent PSA test) will be proactively invited to participate.Why is there such a strong focus on Black men?The study is heavily publicised around Black health equity because 1 in 4 Black men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime—which is double the risk of other men. They are also twice as likely to die from it and are frequently diagnosed at later, more aggressive stages.Because the UK National Screening Committee recently recommended against a mass, population-wide screening programme for all men (due to the risk of over-diagnosis and harm from standard PSA tests), the expanded TRANSFORM trial serves as the primary scientific pathway to build a safer, highly accurate screening programme that will eventually benefit all men."

David Ainsworth ● 2d

“Monstered” ??  Meaning? I don’t use X so is this a common term used on there?Why have you conflated medical screening for black men with the murder of Henry Nowak?  Methinks you trawl the web far too much searching for anything negative posted about Reform, and then get mixed up!🫩In my opinion Yusuf is only saying (albeit very clumsily) that ALL men in that age group should be eligible for prostate cancer screening and not just black men.  I agree though that it isn’t a particularly convincing example of two-tier treatment.

Sue Hammond ● 3d