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.

Who will be included in the screening?

The UK NSC recommends that a small group of men should be screened for prostate cancer if they:

• are aged between 45 and 61, and

• have a BRCA2 gene variant, and

• have a parent or sibling with breast, ovarian, pancreatic or 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 does the prostate cancer screening test involve?

Men suitable for screening will be invited to have a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test every two years. 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

How do I know if I have a BRCA2 gene variant?

If people in your family have prostate cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic 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.

It is possible to have a blood or spit test to see if you have inherited a range of gene variants that could increase your risk of prostate cancer and other cancers. This includes BRCA genes.  

What happens if I have a BRCA1 gene variant?

Men with a BRCA1 gene variant are also at a higher risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer compared to men without. However, the UK NSC decided that there was not enough evidence to recommend that these men should also be screened for prostate cancer.

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

Do I have to take part in screening?

Now that the UK NSC has recommended prostate cancer screening UK governments will decide when to start inviting suitable men for screening.

It could then take years for the screening programme to be made available to every man with a known BRCA2 gene variant and family history of cancer 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?

To qualify for prostate cancer screening you must meet all the criteria listed above. However every man who has thought about the pros and cons of the PSA blood test can request one from their GP.

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.

Updated: June 2026 Next review: June 2027 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.