Data Up to Date as of:
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Introduction
Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced by normal, as well as malignant, cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in a man’s blood. For this test, a blood sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis. The results are usually reported as nanograms of PSA per milliliter (ng/mL) of blood.
Sometimes a PSA test can find a cancer that, if not detected through screening, would never have caused any symptoms in the person’s lifetime because it was growing so slowly that the person died of something else before any symptoms occurred. This is called overdiagnosis. Although no one ever knows if they are overdiagnosed, the harm is detecting and treating a cancer that otherwise never would have caused the person any problems in their lifetime.
In May 2018, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published a final recommendation statement to update PSA screening guidelines for two subsets of the population:
- for men age 70 years and older, the USPSTF recommends against PSA-based screening for prostate cancer, and
- for men ages 55 to 69 years, that clinicians inform them about the potential benefits and harms of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer, stating that the decision about whether to be screened for prostate cancer should be an individual one.
Measure
The percentage of men aged 55-69 years who reported having had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test within the past year, by race/ethnicity, income, education level and age. This provides information about the use of PSA testing in the population.
Healthy People 2020 Target
There is no Healthy People 2020 target related to being screened for prostate cancer. There is a target goal to increase the proportion of men who have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test to screen for prostate cancer with their health care provider.
Healthy People 2020 is a set of goals set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Data Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2005-2018.
Trends and Most Recent Estimates
By Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
39.0 | 37.0 - 41.1 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
40.4 | 38.0 - 42.8 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
37.0 | 31.3 - 43.1 | |
Hispanic![]() |
33.2 | 25.9 - 41.3 |
By Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of federal poverty level![]() |
27.1 | 23.4 - 31.3 |
>=200% of federal poverty level![]() |
42.2 | 39.9 - 44.6 |
By Education Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Less than High School![]() |
27.8 | 21.7 - 34.8 |
High School![]() |
34.5 | 30.6 - 38.5 | |
Greater than High School![]() |
42.7 | 40.2 - 45.2 |
By Age
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Ages 40-54![]() |
13.4 | 11.9 - 15.0 |
Ages 55-69![]() |
39.0 | 37.0 - 41.1 | |
Ages 70+![]() |
44.6 | 41.8 - 47.5 |
Evidence-based Resources
Resources are available on prostate cancer screening to allow for the prioritization of cancer control efforts and the development, implementation and evaluation of cancer control plans. Find state and local level prostate cancer data, prostate cancer screening guidelines, research-tested interventions and more on Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. – prostate cancer.
Additional Information on Prostate Cancer Screening
For the public
- Prostate Cancer Screening (PDQ®)-Patient Version. National Cancer Institute.
- Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test. National Cancer Institute.
- Q&A: What is Cancer Overdiagnosis? . National Cancer Institute.
- Prostate Cancer Screening Final Recommendations. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
For health professionals
- Prostate Cancer Screening (PDQ®)-Health Professional Version. National Cancer Institute.