American Cancer Society recommends routine PSA screening for men aged 50 to 69
The ACS now advises all men at average risk to undergo PSA tests every two years from age 50 to 69, with earlier and more frequent testing for high-risk groups.
The American Cancer Society has updated its prostate-cancer screening guidelines, recommending routine PSA testing for all men at average risk every two years between ages 50 and 69. Men identified as high risk because of race or family history should begin testing at age 45, with yearly screening advised for Black men and for non-Black men who have a close relative diagnosed before age 65 or multiple affected relatives. If a non-Black man has only one close relative diagnosed at age 65 or older, the Society suggests biennial testing after age 45. Men aged 70 to 74 should discuss continued screening with their physician, while screening is not recommended for those 75 and older.
The new guidance replaces the Society’s 2010 recommendations, which emphasized shared decision-making at age 50 without a universal screening directive. The revision is based on evidence that PSA screening can reduce mortality and that modern management strategies limit harms from overdiagnosis and overtreatment. The ACS advises men to be informed about potential benefits and risks, and to confirm elevated PSA results with repeat testing before proceeding to further diagnostics such as prostate MRI, biomarker testing, or biopsy.
For men diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer, the Society recommends active surveillance as the initial management approach. > "By catching aggressive cancers with a simple PSA blood test, you open the door to highly effective treatments that protect your future," said Dr. Shanthi Sivendran, interim chief patient officer for the ACS. > "Meanwhile, lower-risk findings can be safely managed through careful, active surveillance."