A new national survey from MedStar Health suggests a significant share of men 55 and older may be missing opportunities to get screened for prostate cancer, one of the most common cancers among men. Nationally, the American Cancer Society projects roughly 333,830 new prostate cancer diagnoses and 36,320 deaths in the U.S. this year.
Among men 55 and older surveyed, 30% said they’ve never had a prostate exam, and nearly 40% said they haven’t received a PSA blood test — the standard prostate cancer screening tool. Medical guidelines call for PSA screening at least every two to four years for average-risk men ages 55 through 69, with more frequent testing if PSA levels come back elevated.
“Prostate cancer is common, and it may not cause clear symptoms early on,” said Dr. Jonathan J. Hwang, chair of Urology at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. “These findings show that many men may be putting off screening or may not know what warning signs to watch for.”
About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. For patient Jack Chungo, the diagnosis followed a drop in energy and unexplained weight loss; doctors found his PSA level was roughly 10 times higher than normal. After hormone therapy and CyberKnife radiation treatment at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Chungo is now cancer-free. “Thankfully, my PSA number is now very low,” he said. “If you get prostate cancer, you want your doctors to catch it as early as possible. Earlier screening helps them do that.”
The survey also found 41% of men either know someone who has had prostate cancer or have had it themselves — yet only 6% could correctly identify all of the disease’s potential symptoms, which include difficult, frequent, or urgent urination; blood in urine or semen; fatigue; lower back, hip, or thigh pain; erectile dysfunction; and unexplained weight loss.
“It’s always OK for men to talk with their doctor about prostate cancer symptoms or their potential risk,” said Dr. Stephen Ronson, medical director of Radiation Oncology at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center. “They can find out when screening makes sense and what symptoms should prompt evaluation.”
Risk varies by family history, inherited genetic factors, and race, with Black men facing a disproportionately higher burden of both diagnosis and mortality from the disease, according to national cancer data. Men considered at increased risk are generally advised to begin screening between ages 40 and 45, rather than waiting until 55.
Screening decisions aren’t one-size-fits-all, however. Federal guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend that men ages 55 to 69 discuss the individual benefits and harms of PSA testing with a doctor rather than pursuing it automatically, noting that screening carries real risks of its own, including false-positive results and the possibility of detecting slow-growing cancers that may never have caused symptoms. The task force recommends against routine PSA screening for men 70 and older.
More information on prostate cancer risk, symptoms, and screening is available at MedStarHealth.org/ProstateCancer.
This article discusses cancer screening and health statistics. Readers with personal questions about their own prostate cancer risk or symptoms should speak directly with their doctor rather than relying on this article for medical guidance.
