# UK prostate cancer screening policy and diagnosis trends > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/uk-prostate-cancer-screening-policy-and-diagnosis-trends > Updated: 2026-08-21T23:01:02.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. The UK government has revised its prostate cancer testing guidance, removing the automatic entitlement for men over 50 to receive free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests without symptoms. Under the new policy, general practitioners are responsible for determining which patients should undergo screening, with the program shifting focus toward men with specific genetic risks, such as the BRCA2 gene variant. This policy change has faced criticism from public figures, including Lord David Cameron, who described the move as “yet another step backwards.” Concurrently, data from Macmillan Cancer Support shows that prostate cancer diagnoses in the UK are occurring at a rate of approximately one every eight minutes, with an estimated 68,000 annual diagnoses. Health organizations have noted that roughly 600,000 men are currently living with the condition, an increase from 500,000 in 2020. Experts continue to recommend PSA blood tests for high-risk groups, including men over 50 and Black men from age 45, warning that the disease often presents no symptoms in its early stages. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-21: Prostate cancer diagnoses rise in the UK UK charities warn of rising prostate cancer rates, with one diagnosis every eight minutes. Experts urge men to utilize free PSA blood tests to combat myths regarding symptoms and diagnostic methods. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/prostate-cancer-diagnoses-rise-in-the-uk ### 2026-08-16: UK government changes prostate cancer testing guidance for men over 50 Jeremy Clarkson and other public figures have condemned a government decision to remove the automatic right for men over 50 to access free prostate cancer PSA testing. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uk-government-changes-prostate-cancer-testing-guidance-for-men-over-50 --- Cite as: UK prostate cancer screening policy and diagnosis trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/uk-prostate-cancer-screening-policy-and-diagnosis-trends