Health · Healthcare & Policy · 50 mins ago
American Cancer Society urges regular prostate cancer screening
The American Cancer Society has strengthened its prostate screening advice in updated US guidelines.
It recommends a blood test called PSA every two years for men at average risk from ages 50 to 69.
Black men and men with a close family history of prostate cancer are considered higher risk, and should be screened every year from ages 45 to 69.
The guidelines say men aged 70 to 74 should decide individually with a health care provider, and recommend no screening from age 75.
The shift reflects evidence that regular screening can reduce deaths from prostate cancer, while earlier guidance put more emphasis on discussing the pros and cons with a doctor.
A high PSA result does not necessarily mean cancer, so the guidelines advise retesting an abnormal result before further evaluation.
The American Cancer Society says men should consider screening under the updated guidance.
The American Cancer Society updated its prostate cancer screening guidelines to recommend regular PSA testing for men at average and higher risk.
Men at average risk are advised to have PSA-based screening every two years from ages 50 through 69.
The guidelines recommend annual screening from ages 45 through 69 for Black men and other men at high risk.
For men ages 70 through 74, the guidelines call for individual decision-making; they recommend no screening from age 75.
The update marks a shift from earlier guidance that emphasized discussing screening with a health care provider.
- Who
- The American Cancer Society issued the updated guidelines. They address screening for men.
- What
- The guidelines recommend regular PSA-based screening for prostate cancer, with frequency and starting age based on risk.
- When
- Published Thursday, November 12, 2026.
- Where
- The guidelines were published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
- Why
- The society says stronger evidence shows PSA screening reduces the risk of dying from prostate cancer.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The American Cancer Society published its previous prostate cancer screening guideline.
The society published its updated screening guideline.
The guideline calls for individual decision-making about screening.
- Average-risk screening
- PSA test every two years, ages 50 through 69
- High-risk screening
- PSA test every year, ages 45 through 69
- High-risk groups
- Black men and men with specified first-degree family histories
- Ages 70 through 74
- Individualized screening decision
- Age 75 and older
- No screening recommended
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What people are saying
We’re hopeful with this recommendation that men seriously consider being screened for prostate cancer as we outline in our guidelines. … And once you hit age 70, then you’re back in the individual decision-making process,
Leaving it to each patient and doctor meant a lot of men were simply never offered the test. A clear recommendation fixes that,