New prostate cancer guidelines provide concrete roadmap for patient screening

For the first time since 2010, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has updated its prostate cancer screening guidelines, offering specific, age-based recommendations for PSA blood tests and emphasizing secondary testing, like MRIs, before performing biopsies.

This update provides a much-needed roadmap for a disease that remains the leading cancer diagnosis for men by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), accounting for nearly 16% of all new cancer cases in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

The sheer volume of cases underscores the urgent need for smarter, modernized screening. The ACS estimates that in 2026 alone, 333,830 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and over 36,000 will die from it. The new guidelines also aim to help close glaring health disparities, emphasizing early screening for high-risk groups, as Black men are 67% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and face nearly twice the mortality rate compared to white men.

Ultimately, the goal of these updated guidelines is to reduce unnecessary procedures while catching more cancers early-when the disease is highly curable. The NCI reports an overall 5-year relative survival rate of 98.2%, which the ACS notes jumps to over 99% if the cancer is caught before it spreads outside the prostate gland.

The newly updated American Cancer Society guidelines are a massive step forward for patient empowerment. For years, the recommendation was simply to 'have a conversation' with your doctor, which often left men in the dark. Now, patients have a concrete game plan. If you are at average risk, you should be getting a PSA blood test every two years between the ages of 50 and 69. If you are high-risk – specifically if you are a Black man or have a strong family history of the disease – you need to start getting screened annually at age 45."

Mina M. Fam, M.D., MBA, medical director, Urologic Oncology, Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center and medical director, Robotic Surgery, Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center

"My advice to patients is to be proactive at your next annual checkup," shares Dr. Fam. "Don't wait for your doctor to bring it up; instead, ask them directly: 'Given my age, race, and family history, where do I fall in the new prostate cancer screening guidelines?' One of the biggest fears men have about screening is the risk of an unnecessary and painful biopsy. The beauty of this guideline update is that it officially recommends secondary testing – like an MRI or a biomarker test – if your initial PSA is elevated. This means screening is now smarter and safer than ever, allowing us to find dangerous cancers early enough to cure them, while sparing men from unnecessary overtreatment." 

Take charge of your health, shares the doctor. "Don't let fear or embarrassment keep you from prioritizing your health," he adds. "Routine screenings are simple, highly individualized, and life-saving."