Over 50? The new prostate cancer screening diagnosis you should know about

The American Cancer Society has published new guidelines for early detection of prostate cancer, the first update since 2010. The recommendation: periodic PSA tests starting at age 50 for average-risk men, and from age 45 for those at higher risk. The change is based on long-term research showing a reduction in mortality.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) released a significant update to its guidelines for early detection of prostate cancer at the end of last week (Thursday), the first since 2010. The new recommendation states that average-risk men should undergo a PSA blood test every two years from age 50 to age 69, after being informed of the benefits and risks. Men at higher risk, including those with a family history or Black men in the U.S., are advised to start at age 45. The change follows a large European study spanning 23 years, which found an approximately 13% relative reduction in prostate cancer mortality among men aged 55-69. The guidelines recommend against using a digital rectal exam as a routine screening test. In Israel, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, with 3,421 new cases and 520 deaths in 2023, but there is no national screening program. The new recommendations may spark renewed debate in Israel.