Prostate Cancer Guidelines Reviewed: Updates Expected
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, accounting for 16% of all cancers diagnosed and 13% of all male cancer-related deaths. Each year, more than 26,000 men are diagnosed and more than 3,900 will die from the disease.1
Earlier this year, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) released the Draft 2025 Guidelines for the Early Detection of Prostate Cancer in Australia. The consultation period ran from 14 April to 25 May 2025, giving consumers, clinicians, and other stakeholders the chance to provide feedback on the content and direction of the updated guidelines. Approval by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is now pending, with discussions underway about implementation.
Why the update?
The new Guidelines will supersede the 2016 PSA Testing Guidelines, which expired in 2021. Advances in diagnostic imaging, biopsy techniques, genetic risk profiling, and active surveillance strategies have changed how prostate cancer is detected and managed. Updating the guidelines ensures they reflect the latest evidence, standards of care, and technologies available in Australia.
Key proposed changes
- Baseline PSA testing from age 40 – men interested in prostate health could be offered an initial test at 40.
- Two-yearly PSA testing for men aged 50–69 – supported by GP-led discussions on benefits and risks.
- Earlier testing for high-risk men – including those with a family history, BRCA2 mutations, or sub-Saharan ancestry.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men – recommended PSA testing every two years from age 40.
- Diagnostic pathway changes – routine digital rectal examinations in primary care no longer recommended; multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) before biopsy advised.
- Management and surveillance – reinforced guidance for active surveillance in low-risk disease to reduce overtreatment.
Why this matters
These revised guidelines represent more than an update. They signal a shift from discretionary testing to a structured national risk-based program for prostate cancer detection. With their release, Australia will become the first country in the world to publish formal clinical guidelines on early detection, a milestone that strengthens the vision of working towards zero deaths from prostate cancer.
1Draft 2025 Guidelines for the Early Detection of Prostate Cancer in Australia: Technical Report. Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, June 2025. Available at: Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.