Daijiworld Media Network - New York

New York, Nov 13: The American Cancer Society has updated its prostate cancer screening guidelines, recommending that men at average risk undergo regular blood tests every two years between the ages of 50 and 69.

The revised guidelines, announced on Thursday, mark a significant shift from the society’s earlier advice, which encouraged men at average risk to discuss the benefits and risks of regular screening with their doctors.

The screening involves a blood test to measure prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by both normal and cancerous prostate cells. Elevated PSA levels may indicate prostate cancer, but can also result from a benign enlarged prostate or temporary factors such as vigorous exercise.

For men at higher risk, including Black men and those with a strong family history of prostate cancer, the society recommends annual PSA testing beginning at the age of 45.

The updated guidelines also address when men should discontinue screening. Those aged 70 and above are advised to consult their doctors about whether continuing regular tests would be beneficial. Screening is discouraged for men aged 80 and older, as well as for those with a life expectancy of less than 10 years due to other health conditions.

The society said advances in understanding the benefits and risks of PSA testing have contributed to the revised recommendations. Measures such as repeating an elevated PSA test and using MRI scans can help reduce unnecessary follow-up procedures and identify men who may need a biopsy.

Earlier, widespread PSA screening had raised concerns about overtreatment of slow-growing tumours and unnecessary medical procedures among men who did not have cancer.

Prostate cancer is among the most common cancers affecting men. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 333,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with the disease in 2026, while around 36,000 are expected to die from it.