ISTANBUL

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron has revealed that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and is urging the government to improve screening programs.

Cameron, 59, told The Times in an interview published late Sunday that he received the diagnosis after his wife, Samantha, encouraged him to undergo testing.

The former prime minister said he hoped to join others in pressing for a nationwide targeted screening initiative for men considered at higher risk, emphasizing the importance of early detection.

“I would feel bad if I didn’t come forward and say that I’ve had this experience. I had a scan. It helped me discover something that was wrong. It gave me the chance to deal with it,” he said.

His public position gives him a responsibility to raise awareness and encourage action on the issue, he said.

Cameron learned of his cancer after a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test detected concerning proteins. A subsequent biopsy confirmed the result. He described it as a moment everyone fears and noted he faced the same difficult decisions as many prostate cancer patients.

Cameron chose focal therapy, a treatment that uses electric pulses to target and destroy cancer cells, and later underwent a follow-up MRI in June.