It comes after an expert committee suggested mass testing could cause more harm than good – even for those at high risk, including black men and those with a family history
Mr. Copsey also said many men would be unaware of their genetic status unless the NHS actively identified them.
“How is any man in the street going to know that they’ve got the BRCA gene? Will they be called in or do they have to go and have a test to check what their gene is?”
Dave Sheppard, from the Swindon Prostate Cancer Support Group, said the decision had generated immediate disappointment among members.
“It’s going to miss an awful lot of people,” he explained.
He noted that the committee’s position remains provisional and that campaigners intend to respond before the consultation closes.
