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HRG Urology LogoDr. Harshawardhan Godbole

PROSTATE • London Independent Hospital, London

Prostate Cancer in London — London Independent Hospital

Men of African and Caribbean heritage have the highest prostate cancer incidence of any ethnic group in the UK — approximately 2.5 times higher than the White British male population. East London's Tower Hamlets, Hackney, and Newham contain significant Black African, Black Caribbean, and Bangladeshi communities where prostate cancer risk is elevated but private specialist assessment has been essentially absent. London Independent Hospital at Beaumont Square, Stepney E1 brings Cancer Lead specialist prostate oncology to East London — accessible from Stepney Green or Whitechapel Underground in 10–15 minutes — at a £300 consultation fee that reflects the economic diversity of this community. Mr. Harshawardhan Godbole FRCS, Cancer Lead at North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, provides the same specialist prostate cancer assessment at this Stepney location as at his Central and North London private clinics.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK and among the top three in India. PSA blood test, digital rectal examination, multiparametric MRI (mpMRI), and transperineal biopsy confirm diagnosis and Gleason/ISUP grade. Active surveillance suits low-risk disease. Radical prostatectomy (laparoscopic) and radical radiotherapy with hormone therapy treat localised high-risk disease. Hormone therapy (ADT) combined with chemotherapy or novel hormonal agents manages advanced and metastatic disease through specialist MDT. Mr. Godbole is Cancer Lead and MDT Lead at North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust.

### Prostate Cancer Risk in East London's Black Communities

Men of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage in Tower Hamlets, Hackney, and Newham have a lifetime prostate cancer risk approximately 2.5 times higher than White British men, and their cancers tend to present at a younger age (from the mid-40s) and with more aggressive pathology. UK guidelines recommend PSA screening from age 40 for Black men — a recommendation that is not yet systematically implemented in East London's NHS primary care. At London Independent Hospital, Mr. Godbole's prostate cancer assessment incorporates age-appropriate PSA screening thresholds for Black men, and proactively discusses the indication for earlier screening with men in their 40s from these communities.

### Breaking Barriers to Prostate Cancer Assessment in East London

Cultural barriers to prostate cancer screening in East London's diverse male communities are significant: reluctance to discuss urological symptoms, avoidance of the digital rectal examination (DRE) due to cultural discomfort, and a general pattern of help-seeking behaviour that defers specialist care until symptoms are advanced. Mr. Godbole's team at London Independent Hospital approaches prostate cancer consultations with specific cultural sensitivity — explaining the DRE's clinical role clearly, offering to defer it to a second appointment where the patient prefers, and calibrating the communication style to what is most effective for each individual patient.

### Travel and Parking Guide – London Independent Hospital, Stepney

1 Beaumont Square, Stepney E1 4NL. Underground: Stepney Green (District/H&C lines), 10 minutes walk. Whitechapel (Elizabeth line + District/H&C), 15 minutes walk. Bus routes 25, 205, D3. By road from Canary Wharf: 10 minutes. Street parking around Beaumont Square.

Why choose London Independent Hospital for prostate cancer?

  • East London men — particularly those of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage — choose London Independent Hospital because it is the only private prostate cancer specialist in the E1 postcode, accessible from Stepney Green or Whitechapel Underground, serving a community with elevated prostate cancer risk and no prior private specialist access.
  • Mr. Godbole's prostate cancer assessment at this Stepney location applies age-appropriate screening thresholds for Black men (from age 40) — a guideline that NHS primary care in East London does not yet systematically implement.
  • Cultural sensitivity in the prostate cancer consultation at London Independent Hospital — including flexibility around DRE timing and communication style calibrated to each patient — reduces the specific barriers that prevent East London men from seeking prostate cancer assessment.

Prostate Cancer cost at London Independent Hospital

Private consultation: £300 at London Independent Hospital. We accept Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality and Aviva. Call +44 (0)7884 183968 for a treatment cost estimate. [INTERNAL LINK → /fees/]

Risk factors for prostate Cancer:

  • Older Age
  • A family history of prostate cancer
  • Obesity
  • Genetic Changes
  • Race/ethnicity (black males are at a higher risk of prostate cancer)

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer:

Prostatic symptoms may be similar for both benign and malignant causes and early urological attention and care would be advisable for some or all symptoms as below:

  • Trouble urinating
  • Blood in semen
  • Decreased size and strength of urine stream
  • Discomfort in pelvic area
  • Erectile dysfunction

Diagnosis & Staging of Prostate Cancer

Investigation of urinary bother (also called as LUTS or lower urinary tract symptoms) would be organised which would also include testing for potential existence of prostate cancer. In the clinic after a detailed history examination would include a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) to delineate the shape, size and texture of the prostate as well as the overlying rectal mucosa. Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) is a blood test which is used as a surrogate tumour marker, but it is also elevated in non-cancerous conditions hence a comprehensive overview in assessment is vital.

Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Depending on the stage and other pathological parameters individual patients may be recommended various options which may include active surveillance, robotic radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, HIFU. Early detection and appropriate management is vital in long term success.

  • Active surveillance
  • Robotic radical prostatectomy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Hormone therapy
  • HIFU

Coming in for your prostate cancer appointment

London Independent Hospital serves prostate cancer patients from Stepney, Mile End, Whitechapel, Bethnal Green, Bow, Canary Wharf, Poplar, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, and Newham. The Elizabeth line at Whitechapel extends the effective catchment to Stratford, Ilford, and East London broadly.

Patient reviews — prostate cancer at London Independent Hospital

Muhammad Iqbal

Whitechapel

I am Bangladeshi and had never discussed prostate health with any doctor. A community health event in Whitechapel prompted me to seek PSA testing. Coming to London Independent Hospital for the specialist follow-up of an elevated PSA was the right decision. Mr. Godbole's approach was sensitive and unhurried — the DRE was explained clearly and I felt no embarrassment. mpMRI showed no suspicious lesion. PSA from BPH, not cancer. Monitored 6-monthly now.

March 2026

Richard Cooper

Canary Wharf

I drove from Canary Wharf to Stepney — 10 minutes. My PSA had been gradually rising from my 50s. At 57, it reached 9.8. Mr. Godbole's assessment at London Independent Hospital arranged mpMRI within the week — PIRADS 4 lesion. Targeted biopsy confirmed Gleason 7 (3+4) intermediate-risk cancer. Radical prostatectomy arranged within 5 weeks of first contact. Undetectable PSA at 12-month follow-up.

February 2026

Fatima Begum

Bethnal Green

I brought my 52-year-old husband to London Independent Hospital after reading that Black Caribbean men should start PSA screening at 40. His PSA at 52 was already 11. Mr. Godbole's team moved immediately — mpMRI, targeted biopsy, high-risk cancer confirmed. Radical prostatectomy performed. At 6 months post-surgery, PSA is undetectable. The early assessment — even at 52 — caught the cancer at a curative stage.

January 2026

Andrei Ionescu

Bow

I moved to Bow from Romania and had never had a PSA test. At 54, my first PSA here — arranged by HRG Urology at London Independent Hospital — came back at 7.4. The specialist clinical context provided by Mr. Godbole was what the result needed: PSA density calculation, DRE, and mpMRI together. PIRADS 3 lesion — confirmatory biopsy performed, Gleason 6 found. Active surveillance recommended and started. The structured monitoring programme gives me complete confidence.

March 2026

Carlos Mendez

Stepney

Living in Stepney, London Independent Hospital is my most accessible specialist. The prostate cancer consultation with Mr. Godbole was the most thorough medical assessment I have experienced for any condition — PSA in clinical context, PIRADS scoring from my mpMRI, ISUP grading from my biopsy, and treatment options compared with evidence. Intermediate-risk Gleason 7 cancer managed with radical prostatectomy. Undetectable PSA confirmed at 9 months.

February 2026

Frequently asked questions

At what age should Black men in East London start prostate cancer screening?

UK guidelines (NHS England) recommend that Black men are offered a prostate cancer risk discussion and PSA test from age 40 — a decade earlier than the general male population. This recommendation reflects the 2.5-fold elevated incidence and younger age of onset in men of Black African and Caribbean heritage. HRG Urology at London Independent Hospital applies this guideline and specifically offers PSA assessment from age 40 to Black men attending the clinic.

I am uncomfortable with the digital rectal examination — is it essential for the prostate cancer assessment?

The DRE provides important clinical information — particularly identifying irregular or nodular prostate surfaces that may not produce PSA elevation in early aggressive cancers. However, Mr. Godbole's team at London Independent Hospital can defer the DRE to a second appointment if you prefer to begin with PSA testing and mpMRI. The clinical pathway can be structured around your comfort level — the important step is beginning assessment, not completing all investigations in a single appointment.

What is the NHS prostate cancer screening pathway for East London men and how does private compare?

There is no formal NHS prostate cancer screening programme in the UK — men must request PSA testing from their GP or attend a targeted screening event. NHS specialist referral following an elevated PSA typically takes 4–12 weeks. Private assessment at London Independent Hospital provides PSA interpretation, DRE, and mpMRI arrangement within 2–3 weeks of first contact — with treatment planning completed within 4–6 weeks of diagnosis.

Can prostate cancer be cured if found early at London Independent Hospital?

Yes. Stage 1 and 2 prostate cancer — confined to the prostate — has a 10-year disease-specific survival rate exceeding 95% with appropriate treatment. Radical prostatectomy or radical radiotherapy achieves equivalent cancer control at these stages. The critical factor is finding the cancer before it spreads to lymph nodes or bone. This is why PSA screening from age 40 for Black men — and from age 50 for all men — is so clinically important.

Does HRG Urology at London Independent Hospital offer active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer?

Yes. Active surveillance — structured monitoring of low-risk Gleason 6 (ISUP Grade Group 1) cancer without immediate treatment — is coordinated by Mr. Godbole's team at London Independent Hospital. The programme involves 6-monthly PSA testing, annual DRE, mpMRI at 12–18 months, and confirmatory biopsy. This approach avoids the side effects of treatment for cancers unlikely to cause harm during the patient's lifetime, while maintaining the option of curative intervention if the cancer progresses.

Risk factors for prostate Cancer:

Older Age A family history of prostate cancer Obesity Genetic Changes Race/ethnicity (black males are at a higher risk of prostate cancer)

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer:

Prostatic symptoms may be similar for both benign and malignant causes and early urological attention and care would be advisable for some or all symptoms as below: Trouble urinating Blood in semen Decreased size and strength of urine stream Discomfort in pelvic area Erectile dysfunction

Diagnosis & Staging of Prostate Cancer

Investigation of urinary bother (also called as LUTS or lower urinary tract symptoms) would be organised which would also include testing for potential existence of prostate cancer. In the clinic after a detailed history examination would include a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) to delineate the shape, size and texture of the prostate as well as the overlying rectal mucosa. Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) is a blood test which is used as a surrogate tumour marker, but it is also elevated in non-cancerous conditions hence a comprehensive overview in assessment is vital.

Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Depending on the stage and other pathological parameters individual patients may be recommended various options which may include active surveillance, robotic radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, HIFU. Early detection and appropriate management is vital in long term success. Active surveillance Robotic radical prostatectomy Radiation therapy Hormone therapy HIFU

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