Prostate Cancer Screening

You may have seen in the news recently that the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has recommended prostate cancer screening for some men with a BRCA gene variant. Although this announcement is a positive first step, it could be a long time before a screening programme is available to everyone in the UK. This webpage has been created to help all men and their loved ones answer their questions about prostate cancer screening and understand what it could mean for them in the future.

If you would like to talk to someone about your risk of prostate cancer, you can call our free Risk Information Service on 0800 448 0821. If you are a GP or clinician looking for information to help support your patients, please visit our screening page for clinicians.

What is cancer screening?

Screening programmes aim to find early signs of cancer in people who don’t yet have any symptoms. They invite all suitable people to have a test to find out if they have or are at risk of developing cancer. In the UK we already have screening programmes for breast, cervical, bowel and lung cancer. Finding cancer early means it could be treated in time to get rid of it before it causes any problems.

Finding cancer early means it could be treated in time to get rid of it before it causes any problems.

Who will be included in the screening?

The UK National Screening committee (UK NSC) has recommended that men aged between 45 and 61 with a known BRCA gene variant should be screened every two years. This is because these men have a high risk of developing prostate cancer.

Find more information about BRCA genes and how to get tested.

Black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer over the age of 45 are also at high risk of prostate cancer. However, the UK NSC does not recommend that these men should be screened for prostate cancer, based on the evidence it has reviewed.

What about other types of cancer?

If people in your family have prostate cancer, breast cancer, or ovarian cancer, it’s important to know if the cancer is caused by a BRCA gene variant. If you have inherited the same variant of these genes, you could be at higher risk of developing prostate cancer too.

How do I know if I have a BRCA gene variant?

It is possible to have a blood or spit test to see if you have inherited a BRCA gene variant. If you talk to your GP, they will be able to refer you for further testing. 

Read more about genetic testing for prostate cancer. You can also talk to your GP or call our Risk Information Service on 0800 448 0821 if you have any concerns.   

What does the prostate cancer screening test involve?

At this time, we don’t know for sure what the screening test will involve. However, it is likely that men will be invited to have a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test. This test measures the amount of PSA in your blood. A raised PSA level could mean there is a problem with your prostate, but it might not be cancer. It will help the people running the screening programme decide if you need more tests, such as an MRI scan.

Read more about the PSA blood test.

Do I have to take part in screening?

Now that the UK National Screening committee (UK NSC) has recommended prostate cancer screening, the public will be asked for their views. Clinical experts and organisations like Prostate Cancer UK will look at the evidence and give their feedback. After that, the UK governments will decide if and when to start the screening.

It could then take years for the screening programme to be made available to every man with a known BRCA gene variant in the UK. This page will continue to be updated with the latest information as this develops.

What if I want to get tested now?

Every man over 50 who has thought about the advantages and disadvantages of the PSA blood test can request one from their GP. You can also take our online Risk Checker to help you decide if the PSA blood test is right for you. 
If you are worried about your risk or if you have questions about prostate cancer screening, you can speak to an expert on our Risk Information Service. Call 0800 448 0821.

Created: November 2025 Next review: May 2026 or earlier

At Prostate Cancer UK we are committed to providing accurate and up to date health information. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will regularly update this page as the prostate cancer screening programme is introduced across the UK.