A government health panel has recommended against introducing prostate cancer screening for most men in the UK, saying the harms outweigh the benefits. The UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) found that widespread use of the PSA test would lead to high levels of overdiagnosis, detecting many slow-growing cancers that would never cause harm.
Instead, the committee proposed targeted screening only for men with confirmed BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants, who are at higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer. These men could be screened every two years between ages 45 and 61.
The committee also said evidence was too uncertain to recommend screening for Black men or those with a family history of cancer, despite their higher risk. Modelling suggested screening these groups could lead to significant overtreatment and side-effects.
Charities and public figures, including Stephen Fry and Rishi Sunak, expressed “deep disappointment,” warning that many high-risk men could miss early diagnosis. Others, such as Cancer Research UK, supported the evidence-based decision.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he would review the draft recommendations before a final decision is made in March.
