Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK. In January 2026, analysis by Prostate Cancer UK confirmed that it had become the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Scotland for the first time, with more than 5,000 men diagnosed each year and around 1,000 dying from the disease annually.
Like many cancers, it tends to develop silently, causing no symptoms until it has already progressed. In Scotland, 31 per cent of men are diagnosed only once the cancer has reached stage four, compared with 21 per cent of men in England. That’s exactly why screening matters, and why getting screening right matters even more.
For decades, PSA (prostate-specific antigen) has been the standard blood test used to flag men who might need further investigation. It’s a useful tool, but it isn’t a perfect one. It can miss aggressive cancers in men with lower readings, and it can flag men who turn out not to have cancer at all.
Stockholm3 is a blood test that combines protein markers, genetic markers and clinical information into a single individualised risk score, and at ROC Clinic in Aberdeen, we’re now able to offer our patients access to the Stockholm3 pathway here in the UK, a more refined approach to prostate cancer screening that helps us make better decisions together.
Where PSA falls short
PSA testing has genuinely improved early detection of prostate cancer, but it has two well-recognised weaknesses.
First, it can miss aggressive cancers in men whose PSA sits below the usual cut-off of 3 ng/ml. In fact, up to half of aggressive prostate cancers occur at these lower PSA levels, and some of these can be more serious than cancers found in men with higher readings.
Second, PSA often rises for reasons that have nothing to do with cancer at all, things like a urine infection, an enlarged prostate, or even recent cycling or sexual activity. This leads to a fair number of false alarms, which in turn can mean unnecessary anxiety, MRI scans, and biopsies for men who never had cancer in the first place.
What is the Stockholm3 test?
Stockholm3 is a blood test that combines several types of risk information into a single, individualised score, rather than relying on one number in isolation. It looks at:
- A panel of protein biomarkers linked to prostate cancer biology, not just PSA on its own
- Genetic risk markers, validated genetic variants associated with aggressive prostate cancer
- Clinical information, including your age and other relevant personal factors
These are combined using an algorithm to produce a clear, easy-to-interpret risk score, essentially an estimate of your individual likelihood of having a clinically significant (aggressive) prostate cancer.
How is Stockholm3 different from a PSA test in practice?
The practical benefit is twofold. Stockholm3 has been shown to pick up more aggressive cancers, including in men with only mildly raised PSA levels, while at the same time reducing the number of men sent for MRI scans or biopsies they didn’t need.
In large European studies involving more than 90,000 men, Stockholm3 demonstrated considerably higher sensitivity than PSA alone for detecting aggressive prostate cancer, while maintaining similar specificity. In real-world use across Northern Europe, clinics that moved from PSA-only screening to Stockholm3 saw meaningfully more aggressive cancers picked up, alongside fewer low-risk, low-concern diagnoses that wouldn’t have needed treatment anyway.
Put simply: it’s a test designed to find the cancers that matter, while sparing you from investigations that don’t.
Is there a prostate cancer screening programme in the UK?
Not for most men. In 2026 the UK National Screening Committee confirmed that it does not recommend population screening for prostate cancer. It recommends a targeted programme of PSA testing every two years, but only for men aged 45 to 61 with a pathogenic BRCA2 variant and a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancer.
That leaves the great majority of men outside any organised screening offer, at a time when prostate cancer incidence is projected to rise by 14 per cent between 2024-26 and 2038-40. For men who want to understand their risk sooner, prostate health screening outside the NHS pathway is currently the route available.
Am I eligible for the Stockholm3 test?
Stockholm3 is intended for asymptomatic men aged 45 to 74, including those already undergoing evaluation for prostate cancer. It’s particularly useful as a next step before MRI or biopsy, helping to decide who genuinely needs to go further down that road.
At ROC Clinic, we’re one of the few UK clinics offering the Stockholm3 pathway, giving our patients here in Aberdeen access to this test when their PSA comes back above 1.5 ng/ml as part of their Well Man screening. If this applies to you, your doctor will talk you through what the test involves and what your result might mean.
The bottom line
No test is perfect, and Stockholm3 doesn’t replace clinical judgement or your doctor’s assessment of your individual circumstances. But it does give us a sharper, more personalised picture than PSA alone, helping us catch the cancers that need attention earlier, and giving you peace of mind when they’re not there.
If you have questions about prostate health or would like to discuss whether the Stockholm3 pathway is right for you, please get in touch with the team at ROC Clinic.
Frequently asked questions
Is there NHS prostate cancer screening in the UK?
There is no population screening programme. In 2026 the UK National Screening Committee recommended targeted PSA testing every two years only for men aged 45 to 61 with a pathogenic BRCA2 variant and a relevant family history.
Can I have prostate cancer with a normal PSA?
It is possible. Up to half of aggressive prostate cancers occur in men whose PSA sits below the usual cut-off of 3 ng/ml, and some of these can be more serious than cancers found at higher readings.
What can raise my PSA apart from cancer?
A urine infection, an enlarged prostate, and recent cycling or sexual activity can all raise PSA. This is one reason PSA testing produces a number of false alarms.
What does the Stockholm3 test measure?
It combines a panel of protein biomarkers, validated genetic risk markers and clinical information such as your age into a single individualised risk score for clinically significant prostate cancer.
Who is Stockholm3 for?
Asymptomatic men aged 45 to 74, including those already being evaluated for prostate cancer. It is particularly useful as a step before deciding on MRI or biopsy.
How do I access Stockholm3 at ROC?
We offer it to patients whose PSA comes back above 1.5 ng/ml as part of prostate screening or through a Well Man screening at our Aberdeen clinic. Contact the clinic to discuss whether it is appropriate for you.
