American Cancer Society recommends regular PSA-based screening for men at average and higher risk

1. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening every two years for average-risk men aged 50 to 69.

2. Annual PSA-based screening is recommended from age 45 to 69 for Black men and non-Black men with a strong family history.

2MM Brief: The ACS released an updated prostate cancer screening guideline on November 12, 2026, recommending regular PSA-based testing for average-risk and higher-risk men. ACS recommends screening every two years for average-risk men aged 50 to 69. It recommends annual screening from age 45 to 69 for Black men and non-Black men with a strong family history, defined as a first-degree relative diagnosed before age 65 or multiple first-degree relatives diagnosed at any age. Non-Black men with a single first-degree relative diagnosed at age 65 or older should be screened every two years from ages 45 to 69, according to ACS. For men aged 70 to 74, ACS recommends individualized decisions because the balance of benefits and harms remains uncertain. Screening is not recommended for men aged 75 and older, men aged 80 and older, or men not expected to live another ten years, although some very healthy men aged 75 to 79 may consider continuing after discussion with a healthcare provider. ACS advises repeat PSA testing between two weeks and three months for men aged 45 to 69 with levels of 3.0 ng/mL or higher and for men aged 70 to 74 with levels of 6.5 ng/mL or higher. Men with confirmed elevations should be offered magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or a validated biomarker to help guide biopsy decisions. The guideline also recommends active surveillance as the initial management option for prostate cancers considered low risk for growth or spread. ACS said stronger evidence supports PSA screening’s effects on prostate cancer mortality and advanced-stage diagnoses, while improved approaches to elevated PSA can reduce unnecessary biopsies and treatment. The organization said its living guideline process will continue monitoring evidence and periodically update recommendations.

Citation

© 2026 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. To license this content, contact 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. This article is for informational and educational purposes only; it is not medical advice and does not replace the judgment of a qualified healthcare professional.
Image: © 2 Minute Medicine