Prostate cancer debate puts pressure on Government to set out next steps on screening

Photo credit Adrian White and Prostate Cancer Research: members of the PCR team and supporters outside Parliament, holding a banner with the names of individuals who have signed PCR petitions in support of prostate cancer screening.

[London, 27 October 2026] Prostate Cancer Research (PCR) has called on the Government to publish a clear timetable for reviewing prostate cancer screening for men at higher risk, after MPs from across the political spectrum pressed the Government to improve early diagnosis during a parliamentary debate on 26 October.

The debate followed a parliamentary petition led by PCR and signed by over 100,000 people. MPs highlighted the urgent need for better routes to diagnosis, particularly for Black men, men with a strong family history of prostate cancer and those with relevant genetic variants. MPs also raised concerns about men living in the highest areas of deprivation, who disproportionately face worse outcomes and struggle to access screening.

Contributions focused on whether screening policy is keeping pace with emerging evidence and advances in diagnosis, including MRI-led pathways. MPs also called for greater transparency around the evidence and modelling used by the UK National Screening Committee, and for a clear point at which screening for additional high-risk groups will be reconsidered.

Responding for the Government, Minister Dame Diana Johnson said decisions on wider screening must remain evidence-led. She pointed to the targeted BRCA2 programme and the TRANSFORM trial, which is intended to address gaps in the evidence.

The Minister said the Government is funding the National Screening Committee’s screening model for a further three years, with work under way on family history, risk algorithms and biomarkers including Stockholm3. She also said recommendations could be revisited where robust new evidence supports the inclusion of further high-risk groups.

Crucially, the Minister reaffirmed that men who ask for a PSA test should be able to make an informed choice based on good-quality information, and that there had been no change to the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme. Men should therefore continue to be able to access PSA testing through their GP following an informed discussion of the benefits and risks.

David James, Director of Patient Projects & Influencing at Prostate Cancer Research, said:

“The debate showed the strength of public and cross-party support for improving the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. We are grateful to the MPs who spoke up for men and families affected by the disease, the 101,931 people who signed this parliamentary petition, and everyone who contributed more than 250,000 signatures across our two other petitions.

“Too many men are diagnosed after prostate cancer has spread and can no longer be cured. Improving early diagnosis for men at higher risk, including Black men and men with a strong family history, must remain a priority.

“We welcome the Minister’s clarification that men who request a PSA test after a discussion with their GP should receive that test. Men and their GPs need clear, consistent guidance, and this assurance must now be reflected in writing and put into practice consistently.

“However, the Government did not make any new commitments on wider screening for men at higher risk. It must publish a timetable for assessing emerging evidence and explain when screening for these men will next be reconsidered. The clarification is welcome, but important questions about the future of screening remain unanswered.”

The debate came after the Government accepted a UK National Screening Committee recommendation for a targeted prostate cancer screening programme in England. The planned programme will offer PSA testing every two years to men aged 45–61 who have a pathogenic BRCA2 variant and a relevant family history.

Around 1,500 men in England are expected to be eligible. PCR welcomed this programme and further investment in research, but believes the decision leaves many men at higher risk without a targeted screening offer.

PCR is calling for a publicly accountable timetable for updating the National Screening Committee’s “living model”, including a clear decision point on screening for Black men linked to the first-stage results of the TRANSFORM trial. The charity also wants research into who currently receives PSA testing and why, independent expert scrutiny of the model, and clear guidance on access to PSA testing for men outside the new programme.

ENDS

For further comment, interviews with a PCR spokesperson, or perspectives from people with lived experience of prostate cancer, contact [email protected].

Prostate Cancer Research (PCR) is a UK charity working to transform what a prostate cancer diagnosis means for men and their families. We want to stop men dying from prostate cancer and help them live longer and live well, with less impact from the disease and its treatment.

We fund pioneering research into better tests and treatments and tackle the barriers preventing advances from reaching patients. Through our translational research arm, Proven Connect, we help promising innovations reach patients sooner. The infopool provides accessible information to those affected by prostate cancer, to support decisions about treatment and care. Prostate Progress brings together patients’ experiences and NHS health data, with participants’ consent, to support research into better care and outcomes.

Across our work, we champion patients’ voices, campaign for earlier diagnosis and tackle inequities in diagnosis, treatment and care. Our goal is to make discoveries matter: earlier diagnosis, better treatments, improved quality of life and fewer families losing the men they love.

For more information, visit www.pcr.org.uk. To learn about PCR’s screening campaign, visit proactiveforyourprostate.co.uk.