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American Cancer Society now recommends prostate blood tests for most men 50 to 69

Black men and others at high risk should start yearly tests at 45, while the society's earlier advice was to talk with a doctor.

7 news outlets reported this
Liberal2 outletsWhat the new screening schedule means for patientsCenter4 outletsA major change to the society's guidanceConservative1 outletEarlier, more frequent screening to reduce disparities
ABRAnews EditorialPublished 1 min readMoney and daily life
Overview

The American Cancer Society released updated prostate cancer screening guidelines on Thursday, Nov. 12. It now recommends that men at average risk, aged 50 to 69, get a PSA blood test every two years. PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen, a protein made by both normal and cancerous prostate cells.

Black men and men with a strong family history should begin yearly tests at 45. Until now, the society's advice, in place since 2010, was for men to talk with their doctors about whether to be tested. The society says stronger evidence now shows that PSA screening significantly lowers deaths and advanced-stage diagnoses.

For older men, the guidelines leave the choice to patient and doctor in the early 70s and mostly advise against screening after that. To limit harms, the guidelines add steps such as repeating a high PSA test or using an MRI scan to help decide who needs a biopsy. The society projects more than 333,000 new diagnoses among U.S. men in 2026.

Key figures
  • more than 333,000U.S. men expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2026, by the society's estimateCourthouse News
  • about 36,000U.S. men expected to die of prostate cancer in 2026, by the society's estimateCourthouse News
  • 13 percent lowerprostate cancer deaths among screened men in a 2025 European study cited by the guidanceThe Independent
  • about 40 percentmen aged 55 to 69 who had a PSA test in the previous year in 2023, per the National Cancer InstituteThe Boston Globe
  • $100 to $300possible out-of-pocket cost of a PSA test, per AflacThe Independent

Three sides of the story

2Liberal4Center1Conservative

7 news outlets reported this

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Liberal2 outlets

What the new screening schedule means for patients

The Boston Globe opens with the guideline itself: men 50 to 69 should have a PSA blood test every two years, in the society's first update in more than a decade. It quotes the society's Dr. William Dahut, who says the aim is to cut metastatic disease and deaths "and at the same time minimizing harm," and Dr. Adam Feldman of Mass General Brigham, who says the update "highlights the value of early detection." The Globe also notes that PSA tests have faced scrutiny for false positives, and that the US Preventive Services Task Force is updating its own advice, last revised in 2018.

The Independent runs an explainer headed "Here is what you need to know." It covers what PSA tests measure, what happens after a test, risk factors and cost, citing Aflac for $100 to $300 out of pocket. It quotes the society's Dr. Robert Smith on "avoiding unnecessary tests for slow-growing cancers."

Center4 outlets

A major change to the society's guidance

Courthouse News carries an AP report calling it "a major change" to the society's guidelines. It notes that a high PSA level might signal a tumor but can also come from a benign enlarged prostate or a spike after vigorous exercise. It adds that past widespread testing was blamed for overtreatment.

Newsweek leads with Biden: the former president urged men on X to get screened, four days after saying his own prostate cancer sometimes slows him down. It quotes him saying "catching it early saves lives" and reports the new schedule calls for testing more often than he advised two months ago. MarketWatch is headlined "Here's when men should get tested" and says most men should get a first PSA test at 50. The Hill reports the recommendation for regular testing between 50 and 69, citing the society's press release on annual screening from 45 for "Black men and men with a strong family history."

Conservative1 outlet

Earlier, more frequent screening to reduce disparities

The Epoch Times reports that "Many men should regularly be screened," and sets out the age bands: 50 to 69 every two years at average risk, annual testing from 45 for high-risk men, including those with a first-degree relative diagnosed before 65 or several relatives at any age. It contrasts this with the 2010 guidelines, which did not recommend regular screening. It quotes Dr. Robert Smith calling the update "a critical step toward preventing diagnoses of advanced disease."

It quotes Dr. William Dahut, speaking on reducing disparities, points out that for Black men compared with White men the incidence is 67% higher and the mortality rate is nearly twice as high. The piece gives projections of 333,830 new cases and 36,320 deaths in 2026, a five-year relative survival of 98.2 percent, and figures on who is diagnosed. It ends with the rules for men 70 and older.

Money and daily life

For men 50 to 69 at average risk, the guidelines recommend a PSA test every two years. Black men and men with a strong family history are advised to begin yearly tests at 45. The Independent reports that most private and public insurers cover PSA screening, but it can cost $100 to $300 out of pocket, according to Aflac.

All sources: 7 articles from 7 outlets

Liberal (2)

Center (4)

Conservative (1)

CDC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: the federal agency that tracks diseases and issues public health guidance.

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