Prostate Cancer Charities Warn of Disappointment if National Screening Programme Rejected
Leading prostate cancer charities have raised concerns that men across the UK will be “deeply disappointed” if government advisers reject proposals for a national prostate cancer screening programme. The National Screening Committee (NSC), responsible for evaluating public health screening initiatives, is expected to issue recommendations next month. Early reports suggest the committee may rule that routine blood testing for prostate cancer, via the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, does not yet outweigh the risks of overdiagnosis.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the UK, with 55,300 new cases and 12,200 deaths annually. Unlike breast or bowel cancer, there is no formal screening programme, largely due to concerns over PSA test reliability. Despite these challenges, patient groups, campaigners, and high-profile advocates—including Sir Chris Hoy, who has terminal prostate cancer—have called for wider access to screening.
Laura Kerby, Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK, said:
“If these reports are accurate, it will come as a blow to tens of thousands of men and families who have long campaigned for a national screening programme. We know that a safe, effective screening initiative could save thousands of lives. While disappointment is inevitable, we remain committed to advancing early detection and treatment, ensuring no man’s diagnosis is left to chance.”
Prostate Cancer UK is currently running the Transform trial, a £42 million, decade-long study examining different screening approaches to provide robust evidence for a national programme. The trial will involve hundreds of thousands of men and aims to deliver actionable insights to the NSC within the next two years.
The charity emphasises that any potential NSC “no screening” decision should not be a reason for government inaction. Prostate Cancer UK is urging the NHS to update GP guidelines, enabling healthcare providers to proactively offer PSA testing to at-risk men. Currently, men over 50, and black men over 45, can request a PSA test even if asymptomatic, but routine GP offers are not standard.
PSA tests detect elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen, a protein that may indicate cancer. However, the test can sometimes miss aggressive cancers and trigger false positives, leading to unnecessary treatments with side effects such as incontinence or erectile dysfunction.
Rupert Crowfoot, 57, from Berkshire, was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer following a chance PSA test:
“Screening could have saved my life. I know many men who’d say the same. Because my cancer was discovered late, I’ve undergone radical surgery and face ongoing side effects. Until a national screening programme is introduced, men need government-backed awareness campaigns and GP support to ensure early detection. Every day that passes, more lives are lost.”
Prostate Cancer UK continues to campaign for early detection, awareness, and research to reduce the devastating impact of prostate cancer across the UK. The organisation urges men, families, and communities to engage with the Transform trial and support initiatives that could pave the way for a national screening programme.
