Cancer Society Urges Routine Prostate Screening for Many Men

The American Cancer Society is recommending regular prostate cancer screening for most men ages 50 to 69, with annual testing starting at 45 for Black men and men with a strong family history. The updated guideline, published November 12, 2026, marks a shift from the organization’s 2010 guidance, which called for men to weigh screening with a clinician rather than making a direct recommendation.

For men at average risk, the ACS recommends a prostate-specific antigen blood test every two years from ages 50 through 69. For Black men and men with a strong family history, it recommends annual PSA testing beginning at 45. The guidance says men should receive information about screening’s potential benefits, limitations and harms before testing begins.

Recommendations for older men depend on age and health. The ACS does not recommend screening for men 80 and older or for anyone not expected to live another 10 years. Men 75 and older generally should not be screened, though some healthy men ages 75 to 79 may consider continuing after discussion with a health care provider, particularly if their PSA has been rising. Men ages 70 to 74 should discuss whether screening is appropriate for them.