Stockbridge, Ga. (Sept. 1, 2026) - Keeping up with the different health complications that you need to monitor can be overwhelming, and when you have no external symptoms, it can be all too easy to put off even recommended testing. However, by the time you do realize something is wrong, it can be too late for treatment to have an effective impact, particularly when regarding different types of cancer.
Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States, however, when prostate cancer is detected early, the odds of survival are high. This September, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, Piedmont is here to help clarify who specifically needs to be tested and when, and to express the importance of receiving screening to stay ahead of prostate cancer.
As of today, the US Preventative Services Task Force recommends that men between the ages of 55 and 69 receive screening annually. It’s important to have individual discussions with your doctor prior to beginning testing about the benefits and potential costs of testing, as well as risk factors that increase the likelihood of having prostate cancer — which include having a family history of prostate cancer and being African American. Those who are age 70 and above are not advised to receive annual screening.
“Prostate cancer affects Black men at a much higher rate than white men,” said Bhavik Shah, MD, a urologic surgeon who practices at Piedmont Henry. “Black men are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and when it is found, it can occur at a younger age and sometimes be more aggressive.”
The good news is that prostate cancer is very treatable when we find it early. If the cancer is still contained within the prostate or nearby areas, the five-year survival rate is over 99%. Once it has spread to other parts of the body, that number drops significantly (to approximately 38%).
“That is why PSA screening is so important,” Dr. Shah said. “Black men and men with a strong family history of prostate cancer or certain other cancers should talk with their doctor about starting to screen around age 40 to 45. For most other men, that conversation should begin around age 50. Finding prostate cancer early gives us the best chance to treat it successfully and, in many cases, cure it.”
The test itself is known as the PSA blood test, PSA being an acronym for prostate-specific antigen, a protein that physicians and urologists will measure the level of to screen for prostate cancer. While not a perfect test, as abnormal PSA levels can be indicative of a variety of health conditions in addition to prostate cancer, it has been highly effective in detecting prostate cancer.
In a situation where you’re diagnosed with prostate cancer but want to be sure that you do have it before beginning treatment, you can speak with your doctor about active surveillance of the prostate, which would allow you to monitor the cancer and any changes before acting.
It’s also never too early to start practicing good ways to stay on top of your prostate health: maintaining a healthy fluid intake, staying a healthy weight, and keeping your doctor informed when there are any changes in urination (needing to urinate more or less often than usual, the appearance of blood, or frequent urinary tract infections).
For more information on prostate cancer and screening opportunities, visit piedmont.org.Connect with our media team
Have a media request, need more information, or want to schedule an interview? Our team is here to assist with your inquiries and provide the resources you need.