Nearly 6,000 men in Scotland have booked prostate cancer checks in a matter of days, in what organisers are calling a “truly phenomenal” public response to a major new health initiative.
The surge in bookings follows the launch of the Scottish Prostate Cancer Initiative (SPCI), a nationwide programme of free testing sessions that will run throughout 2026. The project, which aims to test 25,000 men aged 40 to 80, got underway in Linwood, Renfrewshire, where 600 men were screened. A further 500 are due in Paisley, with another 1,300 booked for sessions in Glasgow. Events are planned across the country, from Inverness to Dumfries.
A notable feature of the early response has been the role of women in driving uptake. The company delivering the tests, EDX Medical Group, reported that a “substantial” number of the bookings were made by women on behalf of the men in their lives.
A dual-purpose initiative: testing today, research for tomorrow
At its core, the initiative has two interconnected aims: providing immediate health checks and gathering data to improve future diagnosis. Each participant is offered a free Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test, with results typically available online within 48 hours.
The PSA test, which measures the level of a specific protein produced by the prostate gland, is a key tool in early detection. Men aged 50 and over in the UK can already request one from their GP after a discussion of the risks and benefits, with Black men or those with a family history advised to start that conversation from age 45. However, the test is imperfect. A raised PSA level does not automatically mean cancer, as it can also be caused by a benign enlarged prostate or infection. Concerns about over-diagnosis and unnecessary treatment are why the UK National Screening Committee does not currently recommend a routine national screening programme for all men.
This is where the SPCI’s research component becomes critical. Beyond the standard PSA check, the initiative will deploy more advanced diagnostic tests across selected groups. The goal is to develop a greater understanding of the role of genetic risk and other biochemical markers in the origins of prostate cancer. Findings from the study will be made available to NHS Scotland to explore how the clinical pathway for detecting and treating the disease can be improved.
Genetic factors are known to account for over a third of familial prostate cancer risk, with genes like BRCA1 and BRCA2 linked to higher susceptibility. This research aligns with a draft recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee for more targeted screening, specifically for men aged 45-61 with BRCA gene changes.
EDX Medical Group, a digital diagnostics company, is providing the testing infrastructure and has developed a new AI-driven “super test” that analyses over 100 biomarkers for improved accuracy. They are working in conjunction with the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust (GFCT), a prostate health awareness charity which has tested over 172,000 men since 2004, identifying more than 3,800 cancers.
The initiative is fronted by two high-profile figures who have personal experience with the disease: Olympian Sir Chris Hoy and former Scotland rugby international Kenny Logan. Sir Chris, who was diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer in October 2024, has urged all men over 40 to get tested, stating plainly that “it could save your life”. He has highlighted stark health inequalities, noting that outcomes for Scottish men are three times worse than for those in the south of England. In Scotland, over 5,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually, and around 1,000 die from it each year, with a higher rate of late-stage diagnosis compared to England.
The project is also backed by a coalition of Scottish businesses and organisations, including the Scottish Police Federation, Glasgow Credit Union, Dundee City Council, and business figures such as Sir Tom Hunter, Lord Haughey, and Andrew Malcolm of the Malcolm Group, which hosted the first event at its Donald Malcolm Heritage Centre in Linwood.
Men interested in taking part can book a free PSA test via the initiative’s website at www.scottishprostate.com, with further dates and venues to be added over the course of the year.
