Duke University Medical Center’s Prostate Center has just released the outcome of their survey that explored the prevalence of PSA screening tests in men younger than 50.  A recent study suggesting men who are not expected to live 10 more years should not get routine PSA tests has led to an update of generally accepted guidelines that call for an annual screening for every man age 50 or older and beginning at age 40 for men who fall in high-risk categories.

In most cases, prostate cancer grows very slowly and treatment can dramatically jeopardize quality of life.  Men who are already in poor health will more likely die from other causes than from prostate cancer in the first 10 years after testing positive on a PSA screening.  The latest recommendations are that men 75 and older should no longer get annual PSA tests nor should younger men with chronic illnesses that shorten their life expectancy.

The Duke University study reveals good news as well as news that identifies the need for more work in the medical community’s efforts to get all men tested as recommended.  One in five men between 40 and 49 years of age in the general population has undergone a PSA test in the previous year.  In the black population, however, only one in three men has been screened.

Black men are at higher risk of developing prostate cancer than are white or Hispanic men.  Also at risk are men who have a family history of prostate cancer.  When no risk factors are present, the long-standing recommendation is for a baseline PSA test to be done at age 50, with an annual test after that.  When risk factors are present, such as family or African-American lineage, the recommendation is to get a baseline PSA at age 40.

Ethnicity seems to influence screening, with young black and Hispanic men reporting they’d been tested the previous year than white men of the same age.  Other factors that influenced PSA screening were cited as access to medical insurance, a long-term relationship with a physician, higher household income and level of education, and obesity.

Source: Duke University Medical Center