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Can I Lower My Risk of Prostate Cancer? Screening and Prevention

Last updated and reviewed on Mar Cure Hub 25, 2026

Cancer screening means checking for cancer before you have any symptoms. The goal of prostate cancer screening is to find prostate cancer early when it’s easier to treat. There are a few ways doctors screen for prostate cancer.

What is prostate cancer screening?

Recent changes to the prostate cancer screening guidelines encourage men aged 55 to 69 to discuss with their doctor if they should be screened for prostate cancer. These guidelines are currently being reviewed by the United States Preventive Services Taskforce. 

Talk to your doctor about prostate cancer screening, which tests you should have and how often, and what your results will mean for you. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test

The most common and most important screening tool is a simple blood test. It is called the prostate-specific antigen or PSA test. PSA is a protein made by the prostate gland. When PSA levels are higher than normal, it can be a sign of prostate cancer. High levels of PSA can also be caused by other things like an enlarged or inflamed prostate.

If your PSA level is higher than expected, your doctor will talk with you about the next steps. This does not automatically mean you have cancer. Learn how prostate cancer is diagnosed.

Digital rectal exam (DRE)

A digital rectal exam or DRE is a physical test to find changes to the prostate. During a DRE, a doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel the prostate for any lumps or unusual changes. This exam alone is not reliable enough to screen for prostate cancer on its own. But it can be helpful when used alongside a PSA test, especially if your PSA is high.

High PSA: What’s next?

If your PSA is high, your doctor will do additional tests to determine what is causing the higher levels of PSA protein in your blood. It is important to remember that high levels of PSA can be caused by conditions that are not cancer. 

After a high PSA, your doctor may recommend an MRI scan of the prostate to get a closer look. This will help them know if a biopsy is needed. This can help avoid unnecessary biopsies. 

A biopsy is a small tissue sample taken from the prostate to check for cancer cells. This is usually only done if the PSA and/or MRI results suggest prostate cancer. A biopsy is the main way a cancer diagnosis is made. Learn more about diagnosing prostate cancer.

When should you start screening for prostate cancer?

When you begin screening and how often you need the tests will depend on your personal risk of prostate cancer.

• Most men: Talk to your doctor about PSA screening starting around age 50 to 55.

• Black men: Should have that conversation earlier. You should begin screening around age 40 to 45 because prostate cancer tends to develop earlier and more aggressively in Black men.

• Men with a family history of prostate cancer (father, brother, or son) should also consider starting screening earlier, around age 40.

Prostate cancer prevention

There's no proven prevention strategy for prostate cancer, but healthy lifestyle choices, exercise, and diet may reduce risk and improve your general health.

Lifestyle modifications

Lifestyle modifications are changes you make to your daily habits. Connecting modifiable risk factors like diet, weight, and physical activity with cancer risk can be challenging for researchers. For example, we know that having a high BMI can affect prostate cancer risk in different ways. It’s associated with a reduced risk of low-grade prostate cancer, but can increase your risk of advanced prostate cancer. Researchers are always trying to understand how factors like weight and diet affect your cancer risk. 

We do know that general healthy habits can help prevent cancer and help you maintain your health during and after treatment. This includes prostate cancer. 

Lifestyle factors you can change for your overall health and to help prevent cancer include: 

• Maintaining a healthy weight

• Engaging in regular physical activity

• Eating a healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and fish

• Limit or avoid drinking alcohol