LONDON — The UK National Screening Committee issued final recommendations in May 2026 restricting prostate cancer screening to men who carry a BRCA2 gene variant and have a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or prostate cancer. The committee concluded that broader population screening for prostate cancer is likely to cause more harm than good.

Eligible men under the new guidance would be invited to receive a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test every two years between the ages of 45 and 61. The committee estimates that only a few thousand men per year in the UK meet these criteria. Screening is not recommended for Black men due to uncertainties about whether their prostate cancers are more aggressive, nor is it recommended based on family history alone, as prostate cancer is so common that family history alone does not meaningfully narrow risk.

According to the committee, for every 1,000 men screened in their 50s, two lives would be saved from prostate cancer over the next 15 years. However, 20 men would be diagnosed with cancers that would never require treatment, and 12 of those would undergo unnecessary treatment that could result in incontinence or erectile dysfunction. "Once a prostate cancer is found, we still can't reliably tell which cancers need treatment or which do not – and the treatments available for prostate cancer can cause long-lasting harm," said Prof Sir Mike Richards, chair of the UK National Screening Committee.

Chiara De Biase from Prostate Cancer UK said she was deeply disappointed with the final recommendations, calling the decision a step backwards. Some members of Parliament have also criticized the guidance, saying it lacks humanity, and are demanding talks with the Health Secretary.

Dr Ian Walker, executive director of policy at Cancer Research UK, defended the recommendation, stating: "Screening decisions must be guided by the current evidence, with programmes only introduced when the benefits are shown to outweigh the harms, including unnecessary and invasive overtreatment. We urge the UK Government to accept the recommendation." The final decision on implementation rests with health ministers in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The committee said it will continuously evaluate new evidence, including results from the Transform trial, new diagnostic tests, and artificial intelligence tools.