Aviva calls for earlier action as £38m paid in prostate cancer claims

Only 17% of men are aware of prostate cancer symptoms, Aviva finds.

Related topics:  Aviva,  Prostate Cancer
Lucy Whalen | Editorial Assistant, Protection Reporter
15th June 2026
Men's health
"We’re seeing rising claims for conditions like prostate cancer, yet many men still don’t act on potential symptoms or seek help early enough."
- Jacqueline Kerwood - Aviva Protection

Aviva has revealed that it paid out over £43m for prostate and testicular cancer claims across its individual critical illness and life insurance products in 2025.

In total, Aviva paid over £38m across its individual critical illness and life policies for prostate cancer in 2025. Testicular cancer, while less common, continued to affect those of all ages, with around £5 million paid in critical illness and life claims in 2025.

However, Aviva’s consumer research suggests many are still not recognising early warning signs or seeking help promptly.

Aviva’s latest claims data shows that prostate cancer remains one of the most significant drivers of male protection claims. Between 2023 and 2025, the number of critical illness claims relating to prostate cancer increased by around 65%. In 2025, prostate cancer accounted for around a third of Aviva’s individual cancer-related critical illness claims made by men.

However, consistent with Aviva’s 2024 research, around one in three say they only check areas of their bodies, such as their testicles, for new lumps or changes once a year or less. One in five say that they never check their testicles, rising to around a quarter among those aged 45+, when incidences of testicular cancer rise.

Just 17% say they are aware of all symptoms of prostate cancer, and 21% don’t know any symptoms at all, rising to 23% among those aged 45+.

Awareness of common prostate cancer symptoms, including blood in urine, frequent urination and difficulty urinating, has also declined slightly compared to 2024 levels.

Around a third have delayed visiting a GP in the past year, despite experiencing concerning symptoms.

READ MORE: NHS waiting list levels rise for the first time in six months

"Men's Health Week is an important reminder that, while financial protection is making a real difference when serious illness strikes, there is still more to do to encourage men to take a preventative approach to their health through regular checks, understanding the symptoms to look out for and seeking support from a GP if something doesn’t seem right," Jacqueline Kerwood, claims philosophy manager at Aviva Protection said.

"We’re seeing rising claims for conditions like prostate cancer, yet many men still don’t act on potential symptoms or seek help early enough. Early detection can make a significant difference to outcomes, particularly for cancers such as testicular and prostate cancer."

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