A government health panel has advised against introducing nationwide prostate cancer screening for UK men, saying the harms would outweigh the benefits. The UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) instead recommended screening only for men with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants, who face a higher risk of aggressive cancer. These men could be screened every two years between ages 45 and 61.
The committee found that widespread use of the PSA blood test would lead to high levels of overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment, with many detected cancers being slow-growing and harmless. Evidence was also deemed insufficient to support screening for Black men or those with a family history of cancer.
Prostate cancer affects one in eight UK men, yet the PSA test remains unreliable for identifying dangerous cases. Charities and public figures, including Stephen Fry and Rishi Sunak, expressed “deep disappointment,” warning that high-risk groups may be left behind. Others, such as Cancer Research UK, supported the evidence-based decision.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he would review the draft recommendation before a final decision is made in March.
