New guidance issued for prostate cancer screening in the US: Here is what you need to know

New guidance issued for prostate cancer screening in the US: Here is what you need to know Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in American men have new recommendations to get screened more often for prostate cancer, the American Cancer Society announced. The new guidelines recommend that most men aged 50-69 should get a screening blood test every other year. Those in high-risk groups - including those with a family history of prostate cancer and Black men - should get tested at age 45. Past guidance said men should make their own informed decisions about blood testing. The updates reflect findings that screening using blood tests - known as prostate-specific antigen or “PSA” tests - “significantly reduces prostate cancer mortality and diagnosis of advanced-stage disease,” the organization said. Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in U.S. men, and will lead to an estimated 36,000 deaths and 333,000 cases this year. While these blood tests have been available for decades, there is now more evidence proving the benefits of taking them than when prior guidelines were published in 2010, Dr. Robert Smith, director at the Center for Early Cancer Detection, explained in a statement. The updated guidance cited a 2025 European study in men aged 55-69 who received PSA testing, concluding prostate cancer deaths were 13 percent lower in those who were screened. “We also have better approaches to catching lethal tumors while avoiding unnecessary tests for slow-growing cancers that may never need aggressive care,” Smith added. What are PSA tests? PSA tests measure levels of prostate-specific antigen, a protein produced by both healthy and harmful cells in the prostate. Though high PSA levels don’t necessarily mean people have cancer, they can indicate that the prostate is stressed and that prostate cancer is present, according to the National Cancer Institute. “In general, a PSA level above 4.0 [nanograms/milliliter] is considered abnormal and may result in a recommendation for prostate biopsy. However, because PSA levels increase with age, some doctors apply a higher cutoff (such as 5 ng/ml) for older men and a lower cutoff ( such as 2.5 ng/mL) for younger men,” the agency says. PSA screenings are covered by most private and public insurers, but can are $100 to $300 out of pocket, insurance company Aflac says. What happens after? Taking the blood tests is just the first step in the screening process, the American Cancer Society noted. Additional testing using urine or imaging may be needed to determine who needs a biopsy: a procedure that collects prostate tissue samples to help diagnose cancer. If cancer is found, it will likely need to be treated with surgery or radiation. But many prostate cancers grow slowly and lower-risk prostate cancers can be monitored closely instead of being treated right away, the American Cancer Society stated. Risk factors Roughly 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and around 60 percent of cases are in men over the age of 65. While a person’s age, race and genetic history can raise risk, there are some other steps men can take to limit their risk. Limiting the amount of fat you consume by eating more fruits and vegetables can help, Johns Hopkins Medicine says. Fat-rich foods can cause DNA damage that leads to cancer. Adding green tea and soy may also be beneficial. “Clinical trials have suggested that soy may lower PSA levels, and that green tea may help men who are at high risk for prostate cancer lower their risk,” John Hopkins Medicine said. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments