RCGP responds to NSC recommendation on prostate cancer screening

The Royal College of GPs has responded to the recommendation of the National Screening Committee not to offer whole population screening for prostate cancer. Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, President of the Royal College of GPs, said: “Cancer screening programmes can save lives, but they must be evidence-based and reliable, particularly given the risks of overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment. 

“The College supports screening programmes recommended by the UK National Screening Committee and guidance issued by NICE and equivalent bodies across the UK. The NSC’s decision not to recommend population-wide prostate cancer screening reflects the current limitations of PSA testing in identifying cancers that require treatment. 

“We note the recommendation for targeted screening of men aged 45–61 with a BRCA2 mutation, and while we agree that a targeted approach is likely to be most appropriate, identifying all eligible men may prove challenging so, we look forward to hearing more details on how this will be facilitated. 

“GPs want better outcomes for patients with prostate cancer, and we welcome ongoing research – including the Transform Trial - into more accurate tests. Any future developments in screening must be guided by strong evidence of patient benefit.”

Further information

RCGP press office: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.