New clinical guidelines set a clearer path for prostate cancer testing in Australia
By
Cancer Council NSW
Australia has a new set of national clinical guidelines for the early detection of prostate cancer, providing clearer, evidence-based recommendations to help men and their doctors make informed decisions about testing and diagnosis.
The guidelines, supported by evidence-based date from the Daffodil Centre, a partnership between Cancer Council NSW and the University of Sydney, released by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) and approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council, replace the previous outdated guidelines introduced a decade ago.
The updated recommendations reflect significant advances in prostate cancer research, diagnosis and management over the past 10 years. A key change is a stronger focus on risk-based testing, allowing clinicians to find cancer in earlier stages.
Professor David Smith, Prostate Cancer Stream Lead at the Daffodil Centre, said the new guidelines provide long-awaited clarity for both GPs and the community.
“Australia now has a clear and coherent set of recommendations about what GPs should recommend to their patients and what men should do in relation to early detection of prostate cancer,” he said.
What has changed
The guidelines outline when PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing should be offered, how often it should occur and the appropriate next steps when results are higher than expected. They also provide more tailored advice based on age and individual risk factors, including family history and genetic predisposition.
Professor Smith said the guidelines address a gap that previously left many men uncertain about when or whether they should discuss testing with their doctor.
“The main change that we’ve seen now is that GPs are recommended to initiate a discussion around prostate cancer risk and testing with men from age 50 to 69,” he said.
“Men were often left in the wilderness and didn’t really know what they should be doing in relation to prostate cancer.”
Men at higher risk, including those with a family history of prostate cancer, are encouraged to start conversations with their doctor from age 45.
How detecting prostate cancer in early stages could save lives
These new guidelines are supported by cancer survivors like Andrew, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022.
“With my prostate cancer diagnosis, I was told my three boys could have a 50 per cent higher chance of developing prostate cancer in their lives. That means getting tested regularly isn’t just about you… it can be about your kids too,” he says, on the importance of being proactive about prostate cancer health.
The guidelines are especially important given the burden of prostate cancer in Australia. It is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian men and the second leading cause of cancer death among males. An estimated 29,000 Australian men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2025.
Every day, approximately 72 Australian men are diagnosed with the disease and 11 die from it.
Despite these figures, outcomes continue to improve. More than 95.8% of Australian men diagnosed with prostate cancer now survive at least five years after diagnosis, highlighting the value of timely detection and advances in treatment.
Professor Smith said the guidelines are underpinned by one of the most comprehensive reviews of prostate cancer evidence undertaken in Australia.
“Our team at the Daffodil Centre worked with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia to pull together the evidence, reviewing more than 28,000 research articles internationally to come up with the best evidence,” he said. “It’s a really positive step forward for Australia.”