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Experts Update Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines for Men
· Confirmed
In Short: A panel of experts has updated prostate cancer screening guidelines, recommending regular PSA tests for men with average risk starting at age 50.
American Cancer Society updates prostate cancer screening guidelines. CBS19
A panel of experts has updated prostate cancer screening guidelines, recommending regular PSA tests for men with average risk starting at age 50. The American Cancer Society released a major update to its guidelines, recommending testing for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood levels every two years starting at age 50 for men with an average risk of prostate cancer.
The National Screening Committee in the UK, which advises governments across the UK, has said a screening programme for all men is not justified. The committee stated that many prostate cancers grow so slowly that a man would have to live to 120-150 years old before they become a threat, so they do not need treating.
The updated guidelines also recommend that men older than 70 should not undergo screening. However, men in high-risk groups, such as Black men and those with a significant history of prostate cancer in the family, are urged to get tested annually starting at age 45.
The panel's decision is based on accumulating evidence that screening reduces prostate cancer mortality and distant-stage disease. However, the National Screening Committee's decision has been criticized by some experts. Prostate Cancer Research said the decision was 'a serious error that ignores modern evidence' and was a missed opportunity for Black men and those with a family history.
The committee's recommendation is part of a three-month consultation before the committee meets again and gives its final advice to ministers in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Each government will have to make its own decision on prostate screening.
The updated guidelines also recommend that men discuss their individual risk factors, the potential benefits and limitations of screening, and the appropriate screening schedule with their physician. If your father or brother has had prostate cancer, you should not wait until you develop symptoms to talk with your doctor about screening.
The American Cancer Society's guidelines also recommend that men with a higher risk should have this talk as early as age 40. The guidelines aim to reduce the number of Black patients presenting with cancers at advanced stages, as this demographic is disproportionately represented in prostate cancer mortality.
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Background
A panel of experts has updated prostate cancer screening guidelines, recommending regular PSA tests for men with average risk starting at age 50.
What's confirmed
- The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force has recently updated and modified its controversial 2012 recommendation to abandon routine screening of all men using the prostate cancer screening blood test called the prostate specific antigen or PSA test.
- As a urologist who treats and has cared for prostate cancer patients for 17 years, I witnessed firsthand how the controversies of PSA testing in 2012 led to significant confusion in both physicians and patients alike.
- More concerning, 65 percent of these physicians also stopped performing digital prostate examinations, therefore abandoning any form of prostate cancer screening.
What's still developing
- Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and kills 12,000 people across the UK each year.
- Journalists use Newswise as a source for research news, experts, ready-to-use content and story ideas.
- For most men with an elevated PSA, secondary testing, including MRI and/or biomarker testing, is recommended to help determine whether a prostate biopsy is necessary.
- The Prostate Cancer Foundation This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
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