A government health panel has advised against introducing widespread prostate cancer screening in the UK, arguing that the harms would outweigh the benefits. The UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) said screening all men—or even those with a family history—would lead to high rates of overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment.
Instead, the committee recommended targeted screening for men with confirmed BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants, who are at higher risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. These men could be screened every two years between ages 45 and 61. Evidence was deemed too limited to recommend screening for Black men, despite their higher risk.
Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the UK, but the PSA test used for screening is unreliable and often detects slow-growing cancers that may never cause harm. The committee estimated that up to half of cases detected through screening would result in overtreatment and side-effects such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
Charities and public figures—including Stephen Fry and Rishi Sunak—expressed disappointment, warning the decision could worsen late diagnoses. Others, including Cancer Research UK and the Royal College of GPs, supported the evidence-based recommendation.
The draft decision is open for consultation, with a final recommendation expected in March. Health secretary Wes Streeting said he would review the evidence thoroughly.
