Screening Recommendations for persons at “general population risk” (refers to persons of a certain age, who are not known to have any medical conditions, family history of cancer or specific exposures that would increase the risk of developing certain type/s of cancer above that of the general population)

Beginning at age 50 years

• discuss risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening with your physician. At this time there is no evidence that prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening or digital rectal examination (DRE) for the early detection of prostate cancer results in improvements in morbidity, mortality or quality of life
• after considering information about the known risks and potential benefits of prostate cancer screening, annual screening with PSA and digital rectal examination (DRE) should be available to those who request to be screened
• if elected, screening can be discontinued if life expectancy is <10 years

Surveillance Recommendations for persons at “Increased risk” * (see below for examples of "increased risk", these levels are variable; talk with your doctor)

• Beginning at age 40 years (or 10 years prior to age of earliest prostate cancer case in family)
• talk with your doctor about your family history of cancer and your overall health status
• consider PSA testing starting at age 40 years, or earlier, depending upon age of onset in the family; be certain to discuss the risks and benefits of prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing and plan for on-going surveillance
• after considering information about the known risks and potential benefits of prostate cancer screening, annual screening with PSA and DRE should be available to those who request to be screened
• annual screening can be discontinued when life expectancy falls to <10 years
• consider participation in a prevention trial

*Prostate Cancer Risk Increased Among

• men who have a father, brother or son with cancer of the prostate
• African Americans
• men with a mother or sister who has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer