Government advisors are today expected to reject calls for a widespread prostate cancer screening programme in a major blow to British men.
Health secretary Wes Streeting will now come under pressure from charities and MPs to 'show leadership' and overrule the panel, as is within his power.
The UK National Screening Committee yesterday met to consider the latest evidence on the costs and benefits before issuing its highly anticipated recommendation to ministers.
It is understood to have ruled out widespread population screening and targeted screening of black men and those with a family history of disease, who are at higher risk.
Instead, it is thought to have advised focusing only on those with particular genetic mutations, which raise their odds of developing tumours.
It comes despite a major study last month found screening men for prostate cancer slashes their risk of dying from the disease by 13 per cent, with one such death prevented for every 456 men checked - a figure that is comparable to existing breast and bowel cancer screening programmes.
The draft guidance from the committee will be formally published this afternoon and will then be subject to a 12 week public consultation.
Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, with 63,000 cases and 12,000 deaths each year - but unlike breast, bowel and lung cancer, there is currently no national screening programme.
The Daily Mail is campaigning to end needless prostate cancer deaths and for a national prostate cancer screening programme, initially targeted at high risk men, such as those who are black, have a family history of the disease or particular genetic mutations.
Mr Streeting told MPs on Tuesday he would consider the conclusions 'carefully' and thrash out the arguments to 'reach the right way forward'.
More than 120 MPs signed a letter that former prime minister Rishi Sunak delivered to Mr Streeting on Monday, saying a prostate cancer screening programme would be a 'legacy-defining advance for men's health'
And David Cameron, another former Conservative prime minister, revealed on Sunday that he has been treated for prostate cancer as he gave his backing to the routine checks.
A poll published on the eve of the crunch decision found nine in ten people want a prostate cancer screening programme.
The survey of 3,000 UK adults shows 90 per cent wanted members to back the life-saving initiative, describing it as 'important'.
This includes 62 per cent who say rolling out routine checks to help catch the disease early when it is easier to treat is 'very important'.
Women with sons and grandsons were among the strongest supporters.
It has been five years since the committee last considered introducing prostate screening, meaning tens of thousands more men are likely to die from the disease if takes as long to revisit its decision again.
The OnePoll survey, commissioned by Prostate Cancer Research, found support for prostate cancer screening is strongest among older people, rising to 95 per cent among those aged 65 and over.
Only 37 per cent of respondents knew there is currently no screening programme, 40 per cent said the Government is performing 'badly' on improving early diagnosis of cancer and 63 per cent say it is 'not doing enough' to reduce health inequalities.
The public is in favour of a screening programme that initially targets men at highest risk, in line with the Daily Mail's campaign.
Four in five (80 per cent) support this approach and only 4 per cent oppose the idea.
Prostate cancer screening was supported by people across the political spectrum, the poll found, underlining the 'political risk' of ignoring public sentiment on the issue, Prostate Cancer Research said.