Prostate cancer screening: Should you get a PSA test?

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Simple test, not-so-simple decision When elevated PSA isn't cancer When prostate cancer doesn't increase PSA Digital rectal examination Think about your risk factors for prostate cancer Consider the varying viewpoints: What are the recommendations? How does it add up? Content What is PSA? What increases the risk of prostate cancer? What are the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening? What's the advantage of a PSA test? What's risky about a PSA test? What do experts recommend?

Organization	Recommendation
American Urological Association (AUA)	The AUA recommends that beginning at age 55, men engage in shared decision-making with their doctors about whether to undergo PSA screening. The AUA doesn't recommend routine PSA screening for men over age 70, or for any man with less than a 10- to 15-year life expectancy.
American Cancer Society (ACS)	The ACS recommends that men consult with their doctors to make a decision about PSA testing. According to the ACS, men should explore the risks and benefits of the PSA test starting at age 50 if they are at average risk of prostate cancer and have at least a 10-year life expectancy, at age 45 if they are at high risk and at age 40 if they are at very high risk (those with several first-degree relatives who had prostate cancer at an early age).
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)	The USPSTF recommends that men ages 55 to 69 discuss the benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening with their doctors. The USPSTF recommends against routine screening in men 70 and older.
Mayo Clinic	Mayo Clinic recommends offering PSA screening and DRE annually to men ages 50 to 70 with a life expectancy greater than 10 years. Men with risk factors for prostate cancer may need to begin screening earlier.