Thousands of additional black men in the UK will be invited to join a prostate cancer screening study. The health secretary stated he was following scientific advice by rejecting nationwide testing. He accepted guidance from the national screening committee to screen only several thousand men at elevated risk due to a specific gene mutation. Funding was also approved to broaden the Transform trial, which examines optimal testing methods, ensuring greater participation by black men. Prostate cancer remains the most frequent cancer among UK men, with over 64,000 annual diagnoses. The committee advised against using the PSA blood test for all men, citing potential harms outweighing benefits. Men carrying BRCA2 mutations will instead receive testing every two years from ages 45 to 61 when they have relevant family cancer history. Black men face higher incidence and earlier onset of the disease. The committee noted ongoing uncertainty about net benefits for this group and recommended against routine screening. Rollout is planned for 2027. A £20 million commitment was announced for research and care, including trial expansion. Black men aged 45 to 74 living in the UK who have not undergone recent PSA or MRI tests will qualify for the next phase. Campaigners criticized the approach as perpetuating disparities, while the deputy prime minister highlighted personal connections and the goal of reducing inequalities through targeted research.
