Screening Recommendations

Most experts, including the American Cancer Society, recommend annual screening with PSA and digital rectal exam for men over 50 with no high-risk factors and a life expectancy of greater than 10 years.

African American men or men with a family history of prostate cancer should consider prostate screening at age 40 or 10 years younger than the age at diagnosis of his youngest relative with prostate cancer.

It should be noted that not all experts agree that widespread screening saves lives, and diagnosis and treatment does carry a risk of long-term side effects. 

To find out if prostate cancer screening is right for you, please see the brochure from the Center for Disease Control at  http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/prospdf/prosguide.pdf

Normal PSA Levels

PSA Level	Age
Less than or equal to 2.5 ng/mL	Men up to age 49
Less than or equal to 3.5 ng/mL	Men aged 50 to 59
Less than or equal to 4.0 ng/mL	Men aged 60 and older

PSA velocity, or rate of change greater than 0.75 ng/ml per year, may be more indicative of prostate cancer presence than the absolute PSA, even with values in the normal range.  An abnormal digital rectal exam deserves additional investigation, regardless of the PSA level.