New Study Encourages Earlier Prostate Screening for Black Men
Black men in the United States are at the highest risk of being diagnosed with and dying from prostate cancer. The lifetime risk of Black men dying from prostate cancer is 3.8%, which is two to four times higher than other racial groups.
“One out of eight men will get prostate cancer, but for Black men, it’s one in six or even one in four,” said Kosj Yamoah, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center. “Black men also get the disease at an earlier age. The average age of disease onset is 68, but for Black men, it’s 62.”
To address this disparity, the Prostate Cancer Foundation convened an expert panel — which included Yamoah — to review available literature and establish new guidelines for screening of prostate cancer for Black men in the U.S. The findings, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, encourage reducing the baseline PSA testing for Black men from 50-55 years old to 40-45 years old, followed by regular screening until age 70.
Here's what you should know:
Should Black men be screened for prostate cancer? Yes. Since Black men are at high risk for prostate cancer, the benefits of screening generally outweigh the risks.
What should Black men know about how screening for prostate cancer is conducted? Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a blood test that should be considered first-line for prostate cancer screening. Some providers may recommend an optional digital rectal exam in addition to the PSA test.
What information should Back men obtain to make an informed decision about PSA screening and early detection for prostate cancer? Decisions about PSA testing depend on individual preferences. Black men should engage in shared decision-making with their health care providers and other trusted sources of information to learn about the pros and cons of screening.
At what age should Black men obtain their first PSA test and how often should they be screened for prostate cancer? For Black men who elect screening, a baseline PSA test should be done between ages 40-45. Depending on the PSA value and the individual’s health status, annual PSA screening should be strongly considered.
At what age should Black men consider stopping PSA screening? Black men over age 70 who have been undergoing prostate cancer screening should talk with their health care provider about whether to continue PSA testing and make an informed decision based on their age, life expectancy, health status, family history and prior PSA levels.
How should family history and genetic risk be taken into consideration when screening Black men for prostate cancer? Black men with an even higher risk of prostate cancer due to a strong family history and/or known carriers of high-risk genetic variants should consider initiating annual PSA screening as early as 40.
