Federal health officials and cancer experts in the UK have unveiled landmark changes to cancer screening protocols, ushering in a new era of personalized and accessible early detection. These shifts, announced in late January 2026, promise to make screening for cervical and prostate cancers more effective, especially for groups at heightened risk. The updates reflect years of research, advocacy, and evolving technology, and they signal hope for improved outcomes and lives saved.
On January 26, 2026, the US Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) issued updated cervical cancer screening guidelines, a move that could dramatically reshape how women access and experience preventive care. According to HRSA’s press release, the new guidance formally introduces patient self-collection as a screening option for high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing. This means that, for the first time, women can collect their own samples either at home or in a clinic, giving them more control and flexibility.
“These updates represent a significant step forward in cervical cancer screening and will improve screening rates and save lives,” said HRSA Administrator Tom Engels, as reported by Dark Daily. He emphasized that expanded options and reduced financial barriers allow more women to “take an active role in protecting their health and their future.”
The new guidelines specify that for average-risk women ages 30 to 65, hrHPV testing—whether the sample is collected by a clinician or the patient herself—is now the preferred method. Pap tests remain the standard for women aged 21 to 29, but for those in the older group, the preferred cadence is hrHPV testing every five years. Alternative pathways, such as co-testing every five years or Pap testing every three years, remain available if HPV testing isn’t accessible. This flexibility is designed to accommodate labs and clinics at different stages of adopting new HPV test technologies, according to ABC News.
Perhaps most consequentially, HRSA’s update includes a requirement that, starting January 1, 2027, most insurance plans must cover both the initial screening and any follow-up diagnostic testing required after abnormal results. This means that women who receive an abnormal result will not face financial barriers to necessary further testing, such as Pap smears, biopsies, or laboratory work. HRSA also mandated coverage for patient navigation services, which could help more women complete the diagnostic process after an abnormal screen.
Ann Sheehy, MD, HRSA’s chief medical officer, told ABC News, “The addition of self-collection really empowers women to make this choice for themselves. We do retain the option for Pap smear … this is just an additional choice for women.”
These changes align federal guidance with recent FDA approvals that allow both in-clinic and at-home self-collection for HPV testing. The January 2027 insurance coverage deadline is expected to spur rapid adoption of home-based and alternative specimen collection models, making screening more accessible than ever before.
Robert Smith, PhD, senior vice president of early cancer detection science at the American Cancer Society (ACS), explained to ABC News, “The combination of good evidence of the benefits of self-collection, which include increased access to cervical cancer screening, combined with FDA approval, led the ACS and HRSA to include self-collection.” The ACS’s December 2025 guidelines were instrumental in shaping the federal move, citing research that self-collection improves access without sacrificing accuracy.
For clinical laboratories, this shift signals a coming surge in HPV testing demand and underscores the need for validated self-collection workflows. As more women participate in screening—thanks to greater convenience and reduced cost barriers—follow-up testing volumes are expected to rise as well. Lab professionals and health systems are now preparing for these changes, which could help close persistent screening gaps and reach women who have previously “fallen through the cracks,” as Engels put it.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the UK is making its own strides in targeted cancer screening—this time for prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men. On January 26, 2026, Jewish News published an in-depth look at the recent decision by the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) to recommend prostate cancer screening for men with BRCA gene variants. This marks the first time the NSC has supported any form of prostate cancer screening, a move shaped by years of research and advocacy.
Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men, and early detection can make all the difference between a curable disease and a terminal diagnosis. Yet, as Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain MBE wrote in Jewish News, “In its early stages, prostate cancer often doesn’t have symptoms, as was my case. The earlier you find prostate cancer, the easier it is to treat, but until now there has been no screening of any kind for the disease, meaning the responsibility to know you are at risk and act on this knowledge has rested entirely on men’s shoulders.”
BRCA gene variants—particularly BRCA1 and BRCA2—are widely known for increasing the risk of breast cancer, but they also raise the risk of aggressive prostate cancer at a younger age. While about 1 in 300 to 400 people in the general population carry a BRCA variant, the rate is much higher among those with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, where about 1 in 40 people may have the gene.
The NSC’s November 2025 decision not to recommend mass screening was a disappointment for some, but the targeted approach for men with BRCA gene variants is seen as a sensible, science-driven first step. As Dr. Romain put it, “Change must start somewhere, and beginning with the men whose very genetic makeup means they are at higher risk of this cancer is a sensible, scientific approach we should all endorse.”
This targeted screening is made possible by research led by Professor Ros Eeles from the Institute of Cancer Research, who discovered the link between BRCA2 and higher prostate cancer risk in 2017. The ongoing £42 million TRANSFORM clinical trial, funded by Prostate Cancer UK and led by Professor Eeles, aims to generate the evidence needed to support broader screening in the future. Results are expected in about two years, and the hope is that success will unlock screening for all men.
In the meantime, the NHS Cancer Programme and NHS Genomics Programme are working together to establish a BRCA testing program for those of Jewish ancestry. Anyone with at least one Jewish grandparent can register for testing, and men who already know they have a BRCA variant are encouraged to speak with their GP about a free PSA blood test for early prostate cancer detection. Prostate Cancer UK’s online Risk Checker also offers guidance for those concerned about their risk.
Both the US and UK updates signal a new era of precision and accessibility in cancer screening. By focusing on evidence, expanding options, and reducing barriers, health officials hope to save lives and bring hope to families at risk. The changes may not be perfect or complete, but for many, they represent a long-awaited leap forward in the fight against cancer.