A UK government health advisory 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 proposed targeted screening only for men with confirmed BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants, who face higher risks of aggressive cancer. These men could be screened every two years between ages 45 and 61.
The committee found that widespread PSA testing could slightly reduce deaths but would lead to large numbers of men being diagnosed and treated for slow-growing cancers that would never cause harm, resulting in unnecessary side-effects such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Evidence for screening Black men or those with a family history of cancer was judged too weak or uncertain.
The recommendation, now open for public consultation, sparked strong criticism from charities including Prostate Cancer UK and public figures like Stephen Fry, Rishi Sunak and David Cameron. They warned the decision could worsen late diagnoses among high-risk groups. Cancer Research UK and the Royal College of GPs supported the evidence-based approach.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he would review all arguments before a final recommendation is made in March.
