American Cancer Society recommends prostate cancer screening at 50
Key Points:
- The American Cancer Society now recommends regular prostate cancer screening starting at age 50 for men at average risk, with PSA testing every two years for ages 50-69, and earlier annual screening at age 45 for Black men and those with a family history.
- Men aged 70-74 should discuss screening continuation with their doctors, while routine screening is not recommended for men 75 and older.
- Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among U.S. men, but early detection offers nearly a 100% five-year relative survival rate for localized disease.
- Efforts to increase screening include mobile screening units deployed by Mount Sinai and public awareness campaigns featuring figures like actress Brooke Shields, aiming to screen over one million men through the Million Strong Men Initiative.
- The updated guidelines emphasize discussing the benefits and potential harms of screening with healthcare providers, with close monitoring recommended as an initial approach for low-risk cancers.