Most men who get prostate cancer feel completely fine. No pain. No warning. No reason, as far as they can tell, to sit in a doctor’s office and talk about it. That’s exactly what makes it dangerous—and exactly why September matters.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men after skin cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Here’s the part that should change the conversation: when it’s caught before it spreads, nearly 98% of men are still alive five years later. Caught late, the odds fall. The difference between those two outcomes is often a single blood test.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 8 men will hear the words “you have prostate cancer” in their lifetime.
The prostate cancer death rate declined by about half from 1993 to 2022, likely due to earlier detection and advances in treatment. In recent years, the decline in death has slowed, likely reflecting the rise in cancers being found at an advanced stage.
“Don’t delaying the precautionary test until a symptom arises is when we run into a harder situation. A PSA test is quick and can help avoid the progression of the disease.” Said Dr. Aaron Johnson, a member of the medical staff at Kentucky River Medical Center.
The Five-Minute Test
Screening isn’t the ordeal a lot of men picture. The main tool is a Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test—a simple blood draw that measures a protein called prostate-specific antigen. Because early prostate cancer rarely announces itself, that quiet blood test is how most cases get caught in time.
When to start:
- 45–50 — A good age for a baseline PSA test.
- 50–69 — Regular screening, usually every two to four years.
- 40–45, if you’re higher risk — Black men, a strong family history, or a known BRCA mutation? Start the conversation earlier.
There’s no one-size-fits-all schedule. The right plan depends on your risk and your health overall.
Who Should Pay Extra Attention
Every man has some risk, and it climbs with age—most cases show up after 65. But a few things move you up the list:
- You’re Black. Roughly 1 in 6 Black men will be diagnosed, often younger and more aggressively.
- It runs in the family. A father or brother with prostate cancer roughly doubles your risk.
- It’s in your genes. Inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations raise the odds.
- Lifestyle. Smoking, obesity, and diet can all play a part.
“Is This Cancer?”—Usually, No
PSA level spikes can occur due to noncancerous conditions, such as benign prostate hypertrophy, urinary tract infections, prostatitis, consumption of testosterone supplements, recent catheterization, and injuries to the pelvic region.
Here’s something that trips a lot of men up: the prostate naturally gets bigger with age. That’s a common, non-cancerous condition with symptoms like a weak urination stream, trouble starting or stopping, the sense you’re never quite empty, and getting up two or three times a night to go.
The fix is usually straightforward—lifestyle tweaks, medication, or a minimally invasive procedure. It’s common, it’s treatable, and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
Do This in September
- Ask your provider whether it’s time for a PSA test.
- Start earlier if you’re Black, have a family history, or carry a BRCA mutation.
- Don’t wait out urinary symptoms—get them checked.
- Nudge the men you love. Sometimes a text from you is the push they need.
Ready to book a screening or just ask a question? Contact Kentucky River Medical Center or visit www.KentuckyRiverAnytime.com.
Dr. Aaron Johnson is an Internal Medicine Doctor and a member of the medical staff at Kentucky River Medical Center.
Sources: American Cancer Society