UK — The UK National Screening Committee has recommended against implementing a national prostate cancer screening programme for all men, stating it is "likely to cause more harm than good." The committee also advised against screening based on family history or ethnicity, including for black men, citing uncertainties about benefits and risks.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with approximately 55,000 new cases diagnosed annually. It is also the most common cancer in the country without a national screening programme. While early detection offers the best chance for successful treatment, the disease often develops slowly, and some men never experience symptoms or require intervention. In some cases, it can be aggressive and deadly.

The committee endorsed a targeted approach, recommending that a few thousand high-risk men each year—such as those with specific genetic markers like BRCA2 mutations—be invited for a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test every two years between ages 45 and 61. Some of these men already receive informal screening through NHS genetics clinics.

According to the UK National Screening Committee, widespread screening could miss deadly cancers while detecting others that would never need treatment. The committee stated that the small number of lives potentially saved would be outweighed by harms from unnecessary treatments, which can include loss of bladder control. A high PSA level does not always indicate cancer, as it can also rise due to infection, and some men with elevated levels have non-problematic cancers.

Cancer Research UK supported the recommendation, describing it as good news for men with faulty BRCA genes. Prostate Cancer UK said it was "deeply disappointed" by the decision. The organization notes that one in eight men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime and highlights that the disease disproportionately affects black men and those with a close relative who has had the condition.

Men over 50 can currently request a PSA test from their GP. Prostate Cancer UK also provides a 30-second online risk checker. Diagnosis typically involves a combination of PSA testing, MRI scans, and biopsy, as there is no single definitive test. Common symptoms—such as frequent urination, difficulty starting to urinate, weak flow, or blood in urine or semen—can also stem from other conditions and should be evaluated by a doctor.