Prostate Cancer Screening: Progress and Challenges

Prostate cancer remains the most diagnosed cancer in American men other than skin cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer death in

males after lung cancer, and the number of men diagnosed with advanced disease has been increasing in recent years.

Researchers found that after several years of declining prostate cancer rates, diagnoses have risen steadily since 2014 shortly after the US Preventive Health Services Task Force issued their recommendation against all prostate cancer screening. Much of this increase has been due to more men being diagnosed after their cancer has already spread beyond the prostate.

The study also found important differences among racial and ethnic groups. Black men continue to have the highest rates of prostate cancer and are about twice as likely to die from the disease as White men. American Indian and Alaska Native men also experience higher death rates despite being diagnosed less often.

The authors conclude that improving early detection while avoiding unnecessary treatment remains one of the biggest challenges in prostate cancer care. They also emphasize the need to ensure that all men have equal access to high-quality screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2025.