Prostate Cancer Screening

Overview

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test can help find prostate cancer early. But it may not help you live any longer than if you had no screening. And it could lead to harmful treatments that you don't need.

Talk with your doctor about your health, your risk factors for prostate cancer, and the pros and cons of PSA testing. The choice is up to you.

The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that men talk to their doctor about the potential benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening at about age 50. ^{footnote 1} Men with higher risk may wish to discuss the need for screening at a younger age.

Some things that put men at a higher risk include:

• Being of African descent.
• Having a father or brother who had prostate cancer before age 65.
• Knowing that a gene change, such as BRCA, runs in his family.