American Cancer Society Reveals New Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines to Save Lives

Angel SaundersFri, November 13, 2026 at 7:21 PM UTC

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Stock image of doctor examining patientCredit: Getty -

In new guidelines, average-risk men ages 50 to 69 are now advised to get PSA-based screenings every two years

Black men and those with family histories may need earlier and more frequent testing

The guidance is the first from the American Cancer Society since 2010

The American Cancer Society has its guidance on prostate cancer screenings.

In a press release shared on Thursday, Nov. 12, the health organization recommended that middle-aged men be screened regularly using the established PSA test, a simple blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen. PSA tests can lead to early detection and reduce late-stage detection and prostate cancer mortality.

“Key changes include a direct recommendation for prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening every two years for average-risk men aged 50-69, with clinicians ensuring patients understand the potential benefits, limitations, and harms before starting screening,” per the press release.

Men who are at a higher risk for prostate cancer, including Black men and men who have a history of prostate cancer within their families, should seek earlier, more frequent testing.

It’s the first time the guidelines have been since 2010.

“PSA testing remains the cornerstone of detecting prostate cancer early, and we now have stronger evidence of its benefits,” Dr. Robert Smith, senior vice president, early cancer detection science, and director, Center for Early Cancer Detection at the American Cancer Society and senior author of the report, said in a statement.

“We also have better approaches to catching lethal tumors while avoiding unnecessary tests for slow-growing cancers that may never need aggressive care,” he continued.

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Smith added, “The PSA test is just the first step in a screening process. Secondary testing for men with elevated PSA levels determines who needs a biopsy if an individual has prostate cancer, and if so, who needs immediate treatment and who can be safely monitored via active surveillance. These guidelines are a critical step toward preventing diagnoses of advanced disease, reducing premature deaths, and minimizing treatment-related harms.”

According to the ACS, prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers for men and ranks second as the most deadly cancer for men within the country.

There are also substantial disparities when it comes to prostate cancer diagnoses within racial and socioeconomic groups.

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“Black men experience a 67% higher incidence and nearly double the mortality rate compared with White men, an inequity that needs immediate reversal,” Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society and a contributing author of the study, said.

Additional updates to prostate cancer guidelines include men between the ages of 70 to 74 years continuing screening and more frequent testing — as little as every two weeks — for men with elevated PSA levels.

The ACS also shared guidelines for men who do not need to test regularly, which include those who are between the ages of 75 to 80, or are not expected to live another 10 years.

on People

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Source: “AOL Breaking”