Disappointment as National Screening Committee Rejects Widespread Prostate Cancer Testing
The UK National Screening Committee has delivered a blow to cancer campaigners by recommending against introducing routine prostate cancer screening for most men. This decision comes despite stark statistics showing that black men face a dramatically higher risk of developing the disease.
One in four black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, compared to just one in eight men across the rest of the population. For Keith Morgan, a black man in his forties and the associate director of Black Health Equity at Prostate Cancer UK, these figures represent a deeply personal crisis. 'I've lost count of how many friends, family members and colleagues have been diagnosed,' he writes, emphasising that these are not just abstract numbers.
A Glimmer of Progress Amidst Setback
In a historic first, the committee did recommend targeted screening for one specific group: men with BRCA gene variations, which significantly increase the risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. This move is seen as an important step forward, acknowledging that advances in diagnostic technology, such as improved MRI scans and biopsy techniques, are changing the landscape of what screening could achieve.
The committee also explicitly recognised that black men, who are often diagnosed at a later stage, would benefit more from screening. However, they cited uncertainties in the current data as the reason they could not make a formal recommendation for this high-risk group.
The Fight for Evidence and Equity Continues
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with over 63,000 diagnoses and 12,000 deaths each year. Early diagnosis is critical, yet it remains the most common cancer without a national screening programme.
In response to the data gap highlighted by the committee, Prostate Cancer UK has already committed £1 million to real-world evidence studies. This research will use health records and registries to rapidly build a stronger understanding of prostate cancer risk in black men.
Furthermore, the charity is leading the £42 million Transform trial, the largest prostate cancer screening study in two decades. This ambitious project is expected to begin delivering results within two years, potentially paving the way for safe and effective screening for all men.
Keith Morgan acknowledges concerns about over-diagnosis and treatment side effects but stresses that diagnostic methods have improved dramatically. 'We are not where we were ten, or even five, years ago,' he states. Until a screening programme is established, he warns, too many men will face late diagnoses and too many families will suffer the consequences. The commitment to achieving health equity, particularly for black men at double the risk, remains unwavering.
