A UK expert health panel has recommended against offering prostate cancer screening to most men, saying the risks of overdiagnosis outweigh the benefits. The UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) instead suggests a targeted programme only for men with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants, who are at higher risk of aggressive cancer. These men could be screened every two years between ages 45 and 61.
The committee found that broad PSA testing could slightly reduce deaths but would lead to many unnecessary diagnoses and treatments, causing side-effects such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Evidence for screening Black men or those with a family history of cancer was judged insufficient.
The recommendation has sparked disappointment from charities and public figures, including Stephen Fry, Rishi Sunak and David Cameron, who argue high-risk groups are being overlooked. Cancer Research UK and the Royal College of GPs supported the evidence-based decision, citing the unreliability of PSA tests.
The draft guidance will undergo a 12-week consultation before a final decision is made in March.
