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Cancer Screening - PSA & Mammography

Prostate and breast cancer overdiagnosis and shared decision-making

Overdiagnosis concern

​

PSA testing detects cancers that would never have caused symptoms an estimated 10,000 men are overdiagnosed annually in England. For mammography, a systematic review estimated overdiagnosis at 52%. Shared decision-making and informed consent are essential.

10,000

Men overdiagnosed with prostate cancer annually in England

52%

Estimated overdiagnosis in organised breast screening

1 in 3

Screen-detected cancers that would never have caused harm

Resources​

Cancer Research UK: Overdiagnosis in Cancer Screening

Overview for health professionals on breast and prostate cancer overdiagnosis with key study references.

Prostate Cancer UK: PSA Consensus 2024

Latest clinical consensus on PSA testing, acknowledging overdiagnosis concerns alongside evolving evidence.

BMJ Group: PSA testing drives overdiagnosis (2023)​

​Summary of BMJ analysis estimating 10,000 UK prostate cancer overdiagnoses annually.

PMC: Overdiagnosis in mammography - systematic review (2009)

Systematic review estimating 52% overdiagnosis in organised breast screening programmes. Open access.

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