Screening for prostate cancer can be started at age 50 onwards.
A family history of prostate cancer confers an increased risk of prostate cancer, especially if the affected relative was young. Men with a family history of prostate cancer can be screened 10 years before the age their relative was diagnosed with cancer ( i.e if the relative was diagnosed at 55 years of age, male relatives can be screened starting at 45 years of age)
Men with estimated life expectancy less than ten years should not be screened.
There are pros and cons from prostate cancer screening, and these should be discussed with your doctor before deciding on screening. The Singapore Cancer Society has produced a decision aid [1] about prostate cancer testing for local men to facilitate discussion with their doctors.
Reference:
1. 1. Should I Be Tested For Prostate Cancer? Singaporecancersociety.org.sg. https://www.singaporecancersociety.org.sg/get-screened/prostate-cancer/should-i-be-tested-for-prostate-cancer.html. Published 2016. Accessed January 22, 2020.
