Is early prostate cancer screening right for you? It depends.
Screening guidelines depend on your personal risk for developing prostate cancer. Memorial Sloan Kettering recommends having a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test at around age 45.
There are several reasons why screening at that age offers more benefits than risk:
- The results are good predictor of your lifetime risk of developing prostate cancer.
- We can closely monitor men who are at the highest risk.
- Prostate cancer is more curable when it’s caught early.
- Men at low risk for prostate cancer can have fewer screenings, none at all, or start them at a later age.
It’s important to find the balance of benefit and risk that’s right for you. Talk with your doctor about when to start and stop screenings, and how often you should have them.
Princeton partners with Memorial Sloan Kettering to offer MSK Direct, a program that gives you guided access to expert cancer care. We provide resources and support throughout your care experience.
Chief of Urology James Eastham talks with a patient about prostate cancer screening guidelines.
Learn more about prostate health for men
What is a prostate?
The prostate is a gland found in people assigned male at birth. It’s located between your bladder and rectum, and helps make semen.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the United States. But screening helps find more than 9 out of 10 prostate cancers early, when the cancer is only in the prostate gland.
What are the warning signs of prostate cancer?
The first sign often is an abnormal finding on a routine screening exam. Many men with prostate cancer do not notice any signs. Common symptoms include:
- Needing to urinate (pee) often
- Needing to urinate more often during the night
- Unable to urinate
- Trouble starting or stopping the flow of urine
- Often feeling pain or stiffness in your lower back, hips, or upper thighs
- Painful ejaculation or trouble having an erection
Having these symptoms doesn’t mean you have prostate cancer. You could have an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia that isn’t cancer.
African American men have a higher risk of prostate cancer and may benefit from regular screening.
What is prostate cancer screening? When should I get screened?
One of the best ways to screen for prostate cancer is a blood test that measures your level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein made in the prostate gland.
Some men may not benefit from treatment right away because prostate cancer can grow slowly. Treating it too early may be unnecessary, especially since side effects can include problems with urinary and sexual function. Talk with your primary care provider about the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening.
Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines
Here is more information about PSA tests:
Men ages 45 to 49
If you are between 45 and 49, talk with your doctor about a baseline PSA test.
- If the PSA level is 3 or higher, talk with your doctor about getting more screening tests.
- If the PSA level is between 1 and 3, see your doctor for another PSA test every 2 to 4 years.
- If the PSA level is less than 1, see your doctor for another PSA test between ages of 51 and 55.
Men ages 50 to 59
MSK’s researchers recommend that all men ages 50 to 59 should get their PSA level checked.
- If the PSA level is 3 or higher, talk with your doctor about getting more screening tests.
- If the PSA level is between 1 and 3, see your doctor for another PSA test every 2 to 4 years.
- If the PSA level is less than 1, you should see your doctor for another PSA test at age 60.
Men ages 60 to 70
Men ages 60 to 70 should get their PSA level checked.
- If the PSA level is 3 or higher, talk with your doctor about getting more screening tests.
- If the PSA level is between 1 and 3, see your doctor for another PSA test every 2 to 4 years.
- If the PSA level is less than 1, you do not need more screening.
Men ages 71 to 75
If you are between 71 and 75, talk with your doctor about whether you should get a PSA test. This decision is based on your past PSA levels and current health.
Men ages 76 and older
MSK does not recommend prostate cancer screening for men ages 76 or older. A high PSA level does not usually mean you should have a prostate biopsy. Often, your doctor will repeat the PSA test in a few months. It will show if the PSA level is still high. If it is, it may not be caused by cancer.
What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?
Age: The biggest risk factor is age, especially after age 50. More than 6 out of 10 prostate tumors are in men aged 65 or older.
Family history: Another strong risk factor is family history. Perhaps your father, brother, or another close blood relative has had prostate cancer. If so, you are twice as likely to get it than someone with no family history of the disease.
Change in urinary habits: If you have problems with your bladder, it could be because your prostate has cancer or another disease.
Ethnicity: Prostate cancer is more common among African Americans than other men. It also tends to be more aggressive. MSK does not recommend different screening guidelines for African Americans because we recommend all men get PSA tests at age 45.
Talk with your doctor about getting screened earlier if you are at high risk but were told to start screening later in life.
