Statement on National Screening Committee recommendation

Statement on National Screening Committee recommendation

Prostate Scotland notes today’s recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) to introduce targeted prostate cancer screening only for men with confirmed BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants.

While this represents an important first step towards screening for a specific group of men, it will be a significant disappointment for many other higher-risk men who remain without an offer of testing. This includes Black men and men with a strong family history of prostate cancer, who face higher lifetime risk and worse outcomes but currently cannot be reliably identified through national systems for a screening invitation.

Professor Alan McNeill, Consultant Urological Surgeon and Founding Trustee of Prostate Scotland, said:

“The Committee has recommended targeted screening only for men with confirmed BRCA1 or BRCA2 variants. That is a welcome first step, but it leaves many other higher-risk men without a screening offer.

“While this is welcome progress for a small group of clearly identifiable high-risk men, we are deeply disappointed that many other higher-risk men remain without a structured pathway for earlier detection – particularly Black men and those with a strong family history of prostate cancer. Although these men face higher lifetime risk and worse outcomes, they cannot currently be identified through national systems for a screening invitation. This makes clear that, for now, the priority must be strengthening risk-based PSA testing and proactive support for these groups, so that they are not left behind.”

“Delivering earlier diagnosis in Scotland remains closely linked to diagnostic capacity, particularly MRI. While today’s decision focuses only on BRCA-targeted screening, Scotland will still require sustained investment in primary care support and diagnostic services to ensure that men at higher risk can access timely testing and follow-up. This remains essential given Scotland’s consistently higher proportion of late-stage diagnoses compared with the UK average.”

“Scotland already sees a higher proportion of late-stage diagnoses than the UK average. For us, that makes it even more important to improve awareness, GP confidence and diagnostic capacity, particularly MRI, so that men at risk can access testing early.

“Screening means the system invites you. For most higher-risk men, that still will not happen. They will continue to rely on knowing their risk, discussing this with their GP and accessing a PSA test based on their individual circumstances.

“This decision is not the end of the story. Research such as the TRANSFORM trial, better data on higher-risk groups and stronger risk-based testing pathways can shift the evidence and make safe, effective screening possible for more men in future.

“At present, a population-wide screening programme cannot be safely introduced because the evidence is not yet strong enough to show that the benefits outweigh the potential harms. Continued advances in diagnostics and high-quality research will be essential to strengthening the case for broader screening in future.”

Key facts about today’s NSC recommendation

• The NSC has recommended a targeted screening programme only for men with a confirmed BRCA1 or BRCA2 variant
• Screening will take place every two years for eligible men aged 45 to 61
• The Committee has not recommended screening for the wider population
• The Committee has not recommended screening for other high-risk groups, including Black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer, due to current evidence gaps and the inability to reliably identify and invite these groups through national systems
• This is the first time the NSC has recommended any form of prostate cancer screening, reflecting progress in diagnostic safety and accuracy

Additional context on BRCA and eligibility

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are hereditary gene variants that increase a person’s risk of developing several cancers. They are well known in relation to breast and ovarian cancer in women, but male carriers also face a higher risk of prostate cancer.

In the general population, only a small proportion of men carry a BRCA variant. However, BRCA carriers can be reliably identified through genomic testing and established NHS pathways. This makes them the only high-risk group who can currently be invited to screening at national scale.

The NSC has recommended screening every two years for men aged 45 to 61 with a confirmed BRCA1 or BRCA2 variant.

For more information, visit www.prostatescotland.org.uk

For more information, please contact:

Julie Fraser, Holler PR on 07834 708611 / julie@hollerpr.co.uk

About Prostate Scotland

• Prostate Scotland is a Scottish charity set up to provide information, advice and support on prostate health and diseases test and treatments
• Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting 1 in 10 men in Scotland. Nearly 1 in 2 men in Scotland will be affected by prostate disease at some stage of their lives
• The charity’s mission is to inform, educate, support, campaign and advance on prostate disease in Scotland
• It currently receives no government or local authority assistance and generates its own income, receives donations from fundraising and support from voluntary sources