September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, but we want men over 50 or who are at high risk to always be aware that they need to be screened annually

Fellas, are you over 50 or have a family history of prostate cancer? Then, you need to be screened annually or at the least bi-annually for this very common cancer.

(Ladies, you too can make sure if your partner meets either of these requirements he’s getting screened for prostate cancer.)

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, but this disease is important to keep in mind year round, especially when it’s time for your annual checkup. So, why are we strongly stressing screening for prostate cancer?

“I don’t think we talk about prostate cancer enough,” says Dr. James Liu, urologist with Urological Associates of Savannah. “For a disease that has a 95 percent five-year survival rate, there is certainly a lot that we can do to help men, especially those who have been identified early.”

Prostate cancer is the No. 1 most common cancer diagnosed in men in the United States (not including skin cancer). The National Cancer Institute estimates in 2025 approximately 300,000 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

“So it’s a very a common illness, but it’s one of these illnesses where we have the tools and means to identify it early, and if we are able to identify early, we can provide good care and treatments,” Dr. Liu says.

Who’s at risk of prostate cancer?

Honestly, any male is at risk of one day developing prostate cancer. However, if you have any relatives who’ve had prostate cancer, especially your dad, brothers or uncles, you are at an increased risk and should be followed closely or get screened younger than 50, Dr. Liu says.

Studies have also shown that African-American men are at an increased risk. A portion of that is due to genetic factors, Dr. Liu says, but also socio-economic impacts. Dr. Liu encourages all men, especially African-Americans, to see a primary care provider regularly and get your lab work done.

And while it’s true that prostate cancer is slow-growing and mostly common in older men, it’s not just an old-man’s disease any more.

“We are seeing it in younger folks, and I think a large portion of that is one, we’re being more aggressive with genetic testing and screening,” Dr. Liu says. “And also, PSA, or prostate specific antigen, is a blood test that has completely changed the paradigm of how we diagnose and treat and follow prostate cancer.”

So how do you screen for prostate cancer?

Two ways actually: Through a digital rectal exam and blood work that measures your PSA levels. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland. Higher levels, particularly over a 4.0, could indicate a problem with your prostate – but doesn’t automatically mean it’s cancer.

“PSA tells us a lot about the prostate. It can be elevated in cases of an enlarged prostate, inflammation, urinary tract infections, but also prostate cancer,” Dr. Liu says. “It is a very helpful way for us to screen and identify, with a digital rectal exam, and therefore, catch them earlier in their disease progression and hopefully stop the problem.”

PSA also is a contributing factor to the 95 percent five-year survival rate because we are finding prostate cancers so early. It also is helping men have fewer side effects when diagnosed with the disease.

“Before PSA was put into practice, you wouldn’t come see me until you had metastatic disease because you were symptomatic from pain, bone pain from metastatic lesions on the spine, difficulties with urination,” Dr. Liu says. “Now, we’re flipping the whole script and finding it so early that we are able to do a lot more and not have you even think about dealing with all those side effects.”

“I want you to ask your primary care doctor to include a PSA test on your annual blood work.”

In need of a primary care provider? Find one near you today.