Updated Screening Guidelines in Prostate Cancer

MaryBeth Freeman, MPH, senior associate scientist, Surveillance Research, American Cancer Society, discusses updated screening guidelines in prostate cancer.

In the early 1990s, the American Cancer Society recommended that men over the age of 50 undergo prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening, says Freeman. Over the years, groups such as the American Urological Association have come out with additional screening guidelines.

In 2012, the United States Preventative Services Task Force cautioned against screening for prostate cancer, which led to a decrease in incidence among men, says Freeman. Shortly thereafter, data suggested that screening may, in fact, confer an advantage for select individuals. Therefore, in 2018, the United States Preventative Services Task Force revised the guidelines to state that the decision to undergo screening should be reliant on conversations between providers and patients, as screening recommendations are patient-specific­­, says Freeman.