The American Cancer Society has issued a significant update to its guidelines, now advising men to undergo routine screening for prostate cancer using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.
Updated Screening Schedules by Risk Level
Under the new guidelines released on Thursday, men at average risk should receive a PSA test every two years starting at age 50 and continuing through age 69.
For men facing higher risks due to racial background or family history, testing should begin earlier at age 45, with most requiring annual evaluations. Annual testing starting at age 45 is specifically advised for all Black men, given their higher rates of prostate cancer.
Non-Black men should also begin yearly testing at age 45 if a close relative received a prostate cancer diagnosis before age 65, or if multiple relatives have battled the disease. However, non-Black men who have only a single close relative diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 65 or older should begin PSA screening at age 45 but are advised to test only every two years.
Age Limits and Previous Guidance
Men between the ages of 70 and 74 must consult their physicians to decide whether to continue screening, while individuals aged 75 and older are advised against undergoing the test.
This updated guidance marks a clear departure from the organization’s 2010 guidelines, which refrained from issuing universal recommendations for routine screening. The previous version advised men to engage in shared decision-making with their doctors regarding testing at age 50.
The earlier approach mirrored recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force, a federal panel that assesses preventive medical care evidence. The task force is currently updating its own prostate cancer screening recommendations, following recent overhauls and the addition of new members.
