Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. The American Cancer Society says 1 in 8 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed during their lifetime.
Screening is typically recommended at age 50, but men at higher risk — including those with a family history, certain medical conditions, or who are African American — may need to start screening earlier. If the disease isn’t caught early, doctors say symptoms may include:
Frequent urination
Trouble fully emptying the bladder
Blood in the urine
Pelvic pain
Sexual dysfunction
The most common screening method is the PSA blood test, which looks for elevated levels of a protein linked to prostate cancer. If those levels are high, doctors may run more tests to confirm a diagnosis. Health experts urge men to know their risk and talk with their doctor about when to start screening
