American Cancer Society updates prostate cancer screening guideline: Regular PSA testing for average- and high-risk men

The American Cancer Society has revised its prostate cancer screening guidelines to recommend regular PSA testing for average- and high-risk men. This update, published in the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, aims to detect cancer early and reduce the risk of dying from the disease. The new guideline advises PSA-based screening every two years for men aged 50 to 69, with clinicians ensuring patients understand the potential benefits, limitations, and harms before starting screening.

For Black men and men with a strong family history of prostate cancer, annual PSA-based screening should begin at age 45. The guideline update follows stronger evidence showing that screening with a PSA test significantly reduces prostate cancer mortality and reduces the diagnosis of advanced-stage disease. PSA testing remains a key method for early detection, and there are better approaches to handling elevated PSA levels, reducing the risk of unnecessary treatments for slow-growing cancers.

The guideline update also acknowledges the racial disparities in prostate cancer incidence and mortality, with Black men experiencing nearly double the mortality rate compared to white men. The American Cancer Society and its advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN, will continue to advocate for policies that remove barriers to prostate cancer screenings, ensuring equitable access to these vital preventative measures.