Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
A highly influential panel of experts has concluded that a nationwide prostate cancer screening programme for men in the UK is not warranted. Their recommendation is that only those men who possess specific genetic mutations associated with more aggressive forms of prostate cancer should be considered for screening. This approach notably excludes other at-risk groups, such as Black men, who statistically face double the risk, and men with a family history of the disease.
Sir Chris Hoy, who is currently living with terminal prostate cancer, expressed his feelings about the decision, describing it as “disappointed and saddened.” In contrast, Cancer Research UK has publicly supported the committee’s guidance, backing the view that broader screening could lead to more harm than benefit. The National Screening Committee (NSC), which advises governments across the UK, has made clear that the only circumstance where screening should be offered is for men aged 45 to 61 who carry particular BRCA gene variants known to increase cancer risk.
This landmark decision follows a prolonged period of campaigning involving former prime ministers, celebrities, and charities dedicated to prostate cancer awareness. Despite prostate cancer being the most common cancer among men in the UK, with 12,000 annual deaths, the committee highlighted the complexity involved in screening. The typical process involves a blood test, followed by scans and prostate biopsies. However, these tests can fail to detect some deadly cancers while also identifying many slow-growing tumors that would never become life-threatening within a man’s natural lifespan. The NSC emphasized the importance of balancing the benefits of early detection against the significant risks of unnecessary treatments that can severely impact quality of life, such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
The committee’s recommendations were clear and reached with strong consensus: no general screening programme for all men, no screening based on family history, and no screening for Black men due to limited trial evidence for this group. Instead, screening every two years should be reserved for those with BRCA mutations, which affect about three in every 1,000 men, most of whom don’t know they carry these genetic changes. The committee underscored the necessity for men to be thoroughly informed before undergoing any tests, with Prof Freddie Hamdy, a urological surgeon and committee member, cautioning against the cascade of interventions initiated by a prostate cancer diagnosis and its potentially life-altering consequences. The committee’s current advice opens a consultation period, after which final recommendations will be made to UK health ministers, who will decide on implementation.
Reactions to the NSC’s stance have been mixed. England’s Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated his intention to carefully review the evidence before finalizing policy in March. Cancer Research UK welcomed the targeted screening for men with BRCA mutations while agreeing more widespread screening might do more harm than good. Meanwhile, Sir Chris Hoy criticized the decision as insufficient, emphasizing that his own early diagnosis had led to many lives being saved through awareness and testing. Laura Kerby, CEO of Prostate Cancer UK, expressed deep disappointment, and Prostate Cancer Research described the decision as a missed opportunity, particularly for Black men and those with familial risk.
To address existing uncertainties, a new large-scale clinical trial called Transform has begun, aimed at gathering evidence on safely expanding screening to other high-risk groups. The study’s lead, Prof Hashim Ahmed, affirmed the committee’s recommendations were grounded in robust evidence. He acknowledged some men might feel disappointed but maintained that the harms of general screening—involving overdiagnosis and overtreatment—outweigh the benefits. Cancer Research UK has illustrated these complex trade-offs with data showing that, per 1,000 men aged 50 to 60 screened, 28 would be diagnosed with prostate cancer, only two lives would be saved, 20 diagnosed cases would be of tumors unlikely to harm, and 12 men would undergo unnecessary treatments carrying serious side effects
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.