Is it time for a prostate cancer screening programme?
When it comes to prostate cancer, early diagnosis is crucial. Because when you find it early, it’s much easier to treat.
That’s why a screening programme is so important. It’s a way of checking men early – to find cancer before symptoms show up.
Even though it’s the most common cancer in men, prostate cancer is the only major cancer without a screening programme.
But that could finally be about to change. Because soon, the UK National Screening Committee will decide if it’s now time for prostate cancer screening.
So what could this mean for men? Watch our video to learn more.
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A turning point on our path to early diagnosis
In the past, methods for diagnosing prostate cancer were unreliable and often led to men having unnecessary tests and treatments – which could be harmful or cause serious side effects. That’s why we’ve never had a routine screening programme for prostate cancer before.
But today, things are different. Through our research and campaigning, we’ve driven forward major breakthroughs that have transformed the way we diagnose the disease.
Has the balance finally shifted in favour of having a screening programme? Do the benefits of screening men now outweigh the harms? We’ve made our case to the UK National Screening Committee and later this year they’ll decide.
Three steps to start saving men’s lives today
Whatever the committee decides, one thing’s for sure. We can’t stand still and let thousands of men miss their chance for an early diagnosis.
Every man needs to know his risk right now, so he can make a choice about whether to have a simple PSA blood test to check for early warning signs of prostate cancer.
That’s why we want the Government to act now on early detection – so we can start saving men’s lives today.
While we wait for a decision on screening, here are three things we want to see straight away.
Prostate cancer screening: your questions answered
We’ve answered some of the big questions around prostate cancer screening, including:
Why is there no screening programme for prostate cancer?
In the past, methods for diagnosing prostate cancer were unreliable and often led to men having unnecessary tests and treatments that could be harmful or cause serious side effects. That’s why there’s never been a routine screening programme before.
How soon could there be a prostate cancer screening programme?
We don’t know exactly when a decision on screening will be made. However, the Government has committed to having a public consultation on the UK National Screening Committee’s decision before the end of 2025.
Who will be invited for prostate cancer screening?
We’ve made our case to the committee that huge strides forward in testing could have tipped the balance in favour of having a screening programme for men at highest risk of the disease.
Why is early detection of prostate cancer so important?
When it comes to prostate cancer, getting an early diagnosis is crucial. Because when you find it early, it’s much easier to treat. Right now, it’s up to men to know their own risk and ask their GP for a PSA blood test to check for early warning signs.
Find out more
Have we finally reached a turning point on prostate cancer screening?
Why the Health Secretary is right to back evidence-led screening for prostate cancer
‘Black men can’t wait any longer’: thousands sign letter calling for change to NHS guidelines
