The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has recommended that all UK nations implement targeted prostate cancer screening for men aged 45 to 61 who have both a BRCA2 gene change that increases cancer risk and a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancer.

As part of this approach, eligible men would be offered a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test every two years.

This final recommendation modifies a draft recommendation the UK NSC made in November 2025, which also included men with BRCA1 gene changes. Since then, the committee has been consulting with organisations, experts and the public, and considering the latest evidence on the risks and benefits of screening these groups, among others.

“Today’s announcement will be disappointing for many people, but the PSA test currently used to help detect prostate cancer isn’t effective enough to support wider screening, as shown in multiple large-scale trials,” explains Dr Ian Walker, Cancer Research UK’s Executive Director of Policy. “Screening should only be introduced when the benefits outweigh the harms, including unnecessary and invasive overtreatment, and right now, the evidence is only strong enough to screen men aged 45 to 61 with BRCA2 gene changes and a relevant family history.”

We now urge governments across the UK to accept the UK NSC’s recommendation and begin to implement targeted screening.

At the same time, they should continue to invest in research that brings us closer to effective screening for more men. We also aim to be part of that work. Over the past three years, Cancer Research UK has invested £28m to find new and better ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer, and we will continue to help more men affected by prostate cancer live longer, better lives.

In this article, we’re covering what’s been recommended, why, and what it means for men in the eligible group.

What is the UK NSC recommending?

The UK NSC refined its draft proposal following a 12-week public consultation, additional expert modelling, and further consideration of the evidence. The final recommendation is to introduce targeted screening for men aged 45 to 61 with a confirmed BRCA2 gene change that increases cancer risk and a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancer.

This aligns with evidence showing that men with a BRCA2 gene change and a relevant family history are more likely to develop fast-growing prostate cancer. Focusing on this group means that the harms of screening, including overdiagnosis, are reduced, and the benefits are greater.

Overall, this approach has the best balance of harms and benefits compared to screening all men, men with a family history without a BRCA gene change, Black men, or men with a BRCA1 gene change.

Why has BRCA1 been dropped from the final recommendation?

The UK NSC’s original recommendation considered men with BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene changes as a single group.

During the consultation period, we and other stakeholders highlighted more recent evidence about risk for men with BRCA1 and men with BRCA2 gene changes separately. This new research clearly shows that men with a BRCA2 gene change have a higher risk of developing fast-growing prostate cancer. However, it doesn’t consistently show that the same is true for men with BRCA1 gene changes.

After considering the feedback and reviewing this more recent evidence, the UK NSC concluded that the best balance of benefits and harms would come from only screening men aged 45 to 61 with BRCA2 gene changes and a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or prostate cancer,

The committee will continue to review new findings as they emerge to make sure its screening recommendation is based on the latest research.

In the meantime, Cancer Research UK is funding the ongoing IMPACT study, which will provide more evidence on offering prostate cancer screening to people with BRCA1 gene changes. We’re also supporting the PROFILE study, which is looking at the genetics that influence the chances someone may develop prostate cancer and could provide more clarity on why some individuals are at greater risk.

What happens now?

Now the UK NSC has put forward its final recommendation, government ministers across the four UK nations will need to make the ultimate decision on whether and how to roll out targeted prostate screening.

The details of how this could work still need to be confirmed. The NHS (and the Health and Social Care system in Northern Ireland) will need to determine how best to identify and invite eligible men, support them through screening, and ensure follow‑up tests such as MRI scans and biopsies are delivered safely and consistently. Guidance from UK Cancer Genetics Group (UKCGG) will play an important role here.

We urge UK governments to accept the recommendation and ensure a fair and sustainable approach to screening is rolled out as quickly as possible. We’ll also work to make sure that healthcare professionals and the wider public have clear, evidence-based information on prostate cancer screening.

If the UK Government accepts the UK NSC’s recommendation, it’s likely to take some time before screening is available to all eligible men. In the meantime, if you have a BRCA2 gene change or a relevant family history and have questions, we recommend speaking to your doctor or your genetics specialist.

What is Cancer Research UK’s message for men?   

We understand that there will be a range of reactions to the UK NSC’s final recommendation. Some people will be reassured to see a targeted screening approach that could help save lives from prostate cancer. But others may be disappointed that screening isn’t recommended for more men.

The UK NSC has carefully considered all the available evidence to produce this final recommendation, which they firmly believe will help to save lives while minimising harms.

This new recommendation represents an important step towards more personalised, risk‑based screening in the UK and is an encouraging move toward detecting prostate cancer earlier in those at the highest risk. It’s now on UK governments to accept this recommendation and roll out targeted screening as soon as possible.

Whether or not you’re in the target group, it’s important to remember that screening is only one way to diagnose prostate cancer.  If you have symptoms or you notice anything unusual for you, talk to your doctor.