Draft Guidelines: We need you to have your say

28 April 2025

By Professor Jeff Dunn AO, Chief of Mission and Head of Research, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia; Chair, Guidelines Steering Committee

Prostate cancer is Australia’s most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Each year, around 4,000 men lose their lives to the disease — and that number is set to grow unless we take action.

Since the release of Australia’s last PSA testing guidelines in 2016, nearly 30,000 men have died from prostate cancer. Looking ahead, projections suggest that over 600,000 men will be diagnosed by 2044, with more than 116,000 expected to die. That’s 116,000 fathers, brothers, sons, and mates — gone too soon.

Today, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change that future.

Following two years of rigorous evidence review and expert consultation, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) has released the Draft 2025 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Early Detection of Prostate Cancer — and we’re calling on all Australians to have their say.

Public consultation is open until May 25, with final approval by the National Health and Medical Research Council expected in August.

If adopted, these guidelines would make Australia the first country in the world to implement national clinical guidelines for early detection — replacing inconsistent advice with a clear, organised framework to diagnose prostate cancer earlier and save lives.

The draft includes several landmark changes including a world-first recommendation to offer a baseline PSA test at age 40 for interested men that will allow early identification of those at higher risk. There’s a strong recommendation for GPs to proactively offer PSA testing every two years for men aged 50–69. As well a reversal of previous advice against testing men over 70 — instead recommending decisions be based on clinical assessment. For the first time, tailored guidelines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, recommending two-yearly testing from age 40 due to significantly higher mortality risk. As well reinforcement that digital rectal exams are no longer recommended in primary care — removing a major barrier to testing.

These recommendations reflect significant progress. Advances in diagnostic tools, like multiparametric MRI, now reduce the risk of overdiagnosis and unnecessary procedures. Meanwhile, more men with low-risk cancers are opting for Active Surveillance rather than immediate treatment, reducing potential harm.

Developed through collaboration with Australia’s leading clinicians, scientists, and consumers, these draft guidelines mark a bold shift toward risk-based, evidence-led screening. With proper implementation and public education, they could save thousands of lives in the next five years.

But to get this right, we need your input.

Whether you’re a clinician, a patient, a carer, or simply someone who cares about men’s health — your feedback matters.

Visit pcfa.org.au/psa-guidelines-review to read the draft guidelines and make a submission before May 25.