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