adult screening programme

Prostate cancer

The prostate is a small gland found in men. It is located in the pelvis between the penis and the bladder. The main function of the prostate is to help in the production of semen. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and usually affects men over the age of 65.

UK NSC screening recommendation Based on the last UK NSC review of this condition that occurred in March 2026.

Screening for this condition is recommended.

Based on the 2025 to 2026 review of evidence into prostate cancer screening, the modelling study and consultation with stakeholders, the UK NSC:

does not recommend population screening for this condition
recommends a targeted screening programme, involving PSA testing every 2 years, for men aged 45 to 61 who have a pathogenic (able to cause disease) BRCA2 variant with a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or prostate cancer
recommends that the best method of identifying and inviting the above high-risk group should be evaluated over time
does not recommend targeted screening for any other risk groups
will continue to work closely with UK researchers, including the TRANSFORM trial, to address uncertainties in the evidence regarding targeted screening of black men and other risk groups

The committee concluded that screening is more likely to cause more harm than good in the whole population and in men with a family member who has had breast, ovarian or prostate cancer but who do not have a BRCA2 variant. For black men, there is ongoing uncertainty as to whether screening would cause more good than harm. The main harms of prostate cancer screening include incontinence and erectile dysfunction in men who do not need treatment.

The UK NSC is hopeful that new evidence, new tests and a better understanding of prostate cancer will support much wider screening in the future.

Supporting documents from the 2026 review

Evidence review
This document provides the evidence on which the current UK NSC recommendation is based.

Cost-effective model
A mathematical method to predict the costs and health effects (or health outcomes) of one intervention compared to another, based on the best available evidence.

Coversheet
This document summarises the review process including the public consultation comments.

Supporting documents from the 2020 review

In 2020, the UK NSC did not recommend screening for this condition.

UK NSC Rapid Review Screening Prostate Cancer Final February 2021
This document provides the evidence on which the current UK NSC recommendation is based.

Screening for prostate cancer Coversheet Redacted
This document summarises the review process including the public consultation comments.

Screening around the UK

The UK NSC recommends screening for this condition, however this may vary slightly depending on where you are in the UK.

Find out more about screening programmes across the UK.

Review cycle

Date previous review completed: 2026

Next review estimated to be completed: 2029 to 2030.

To see previous evidence reviews, visit the UK NSC archive.

Organisations interested in Prostate cancer

These organisations have expressed interest in this recommendation and may submit responses to evidence reviews.

List of organisations

If you think your organisation should be added, please contact us.

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