This September, in honor of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the American Cancer Society is encouraging men to discuss their risks of prostate cancer with their doctors and the possibility of screening.
The American Cancer Society noted that cases of prostate cancer have continued to increase by 3% per year between 2014 and 2022, referencing the society's Cancer Statistics, 2026 report, released earlier this year. Additionally, many of the steepest increases in prostate cancer cases are advanced-stage diagnoses.
An estimated 333,820 new cases of prostate cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2026, and about 36,320 men are expected to die from the disease, according to calculations from the report.
“We’re seeing two things happen at once: more men are being diagnosed with prostate cancer, and a growing share of those cases are happening at a more advanced stage,” said William L. Dahut, MD, Chief Scientific Officer at the American Cancer Society. “That tells us screening conversations are happening too late for too many men, particularly those at high risk for the disease.”
The American Cancer Society stressed that prostate cancer screening is not the best option for all men as risk varies based on age, race, family history, and inherited gene variations. However, the society recommended analyzing personal risk factors, using such free tools as ACS CancerRisk360, and discussing options with doctors based on their age and risk status.
For example, men at high risk of prostate cancer, including Black men and those with a family history of prostate cancer, are recommended to begin screening at age 40 or 45, while men at average risk typically begin at age 50.
“Knowing your personal risk is the start of a conversation that can change your outcome,” said Dr. Dahut. “That first conversation with a doctor should happen before symptoms appear, not after. The important message here is that regular screening can save lives and detect cancer early when treatment can often be successful.”
DISCLOSURES: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit onlinelibrary.wiley.com.
