Dear Men, Avoiding Prostate Screenings Means Early Death

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in males, and about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with it. With the global yearly cases of prostate cancer projected to hit 2.9 million by 2040, men can better protect their health by opting for screenings.

Despite the life-saving benefits of prostate cancer screening, men are opting out, and inadvertently increasing their risk for early death.

Men and Prostate Cancer Screening

A prostate-specific antigen test (PSA) measures the levels of PSA, a protein made by the prostate, in one’s bloodstream. High readings suggest the need for further testing, as it may indicate prostate cancer.

Yet, despite the importance of PSA tests, many men aren’t opting for them. That said, this article delves into the recent findings that imply how such decisions could lead to an early grave.

Presented at the European Association of Urology Congress 2025 in Madrid, Spain, researchers shared how they examined twenty years of data that featured over 160 000 males who had been invited to participate in prostate cancer screening. The participants, ages 55 to 69 years old, were randomized into two groups: those who were invited to attend screening appointments and those who were not.

The researchers found that those who skipped their prostate screening appointments faced a 45% higher risk of dying from prostate cancer compared to those who did attend their screenings. Alternatively, those who attended their screenings experienced a 23% lower risk of dying from prostate cancer.

Why skip prostate cancer screenings?

Let’s be honest, men aren’t exactly as proactive with their health as women. Yet, that is not necessarily why some choose to forgo prostate cancer screening.

For one, they may have preconceived ideas about PSA testing, especially since 2012 saw the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force discouraging people from undergoing these tests due to overtreatment and overdiagnosis from years before. Granted, these tests may be inaccurate at times. Yet, advances such as MRI scans are helping to reduce unnecessary biopsies and over-diagnoses. Also, published and peer-reviewed research has proven how screening can reduce the rate of advanced cancers.

Aside from PSA tests, digital rectal exams are another way to screen for prostate cancer, and men may feel embarrassed about the way it’s performed and would rather avoid it than protect their health.

Coupled with lack of knowledge, fear of diagnosis, and absence of urological complaints and symptoms (frequent urination, blood in urine/semen, painful ejaculation), these reasons may explain why men avoid prostate screening.

Encourage prostate screening

If we really want to encourage more men to get regular prostate screening, it’s important to raise awareness about prostate health, particularly prostate cancer.

The first would be to start conversations and highlight the risks associated with prostate cancer, such as family history, age and race, and to highlight the importance and benefits of early detection.

Additionally, some men may shy away from talking about their health. So, it’s advisable to engage with them in a way that would encourage them to talk to their friends and family about prostate cancer screening and to support each other in getting screened.

Want to know more?

While cancer doesn’t discriminate, it appears that prostate cancer is harsher on men of color, with black men facing a much harder time with the condition than their white counterparts.

References

James, N.D., Tannock, I., N’Dow, J., Feng, F., et al. (2024). The Lancet Commission on prostate cancer: planning for the surge in cases. Lancet, 403(10437). doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(24)00651-2.

Drazer, M. W., Huo, D., & Eggener, S. E. (2015). National Prostate Cancer Screening Rates After the 2012 US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Discouraging Prostate-Specific Antigen-Based Screening. Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 33(22), 2416–2423. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2015.61.6532