About 313,780 new cases of prostate cancer are estimated this year in the U.S., according to data from the American Cancer Society. Of those, about 35,770 could be deadly.
In fact, prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death for men in America and the most common male cancer in 112 countries. Rates are expected to double by 2040 worldwide, which is why a new study is urging immediate action.
After observing data from the world's largest prostate cancer screening study, scientists found that men who skip prostate cancer screenings are 45% more likely to die from the disease than others who get regular checkups. Let's unpack more of the important findings and what this means for you.
RELATED: The Essential Health Check Every Man Needs
Why Skipping PSA Screenings Is Dangerous
A new analysis of The European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) looked at data from over 72,000 men across seven countries for 20 years. The most recent findings were presented at the European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress in Madrid on March 20, 2025.
What researchers found was alarming: Men who consistently avoided invites to prostate cancer screenings had dramatically worse outcomes. Meanwhile, men who went to screenings had a 23% lower risk of death.
"It may be that men who opted not to attend a screening appointment are care avoiders, meaning they’re less likely to engage in healthy behaviors and preventative care in general," said the study’s lead author, Renée Leenen MD, a PhD researcher in the group of Professor Monique Roobol at the Erasmus MC Cancer Institute.
"This is the opposite behavior of people who are perhaps more health conscious and are more likely to attend a screening appointment."
This new research is important as it's helping several countries in the EU decide whether or not it's worthwhile to implement national programs for cancer screenings.
The PSA (prostate-specific antigen) screening, in particular, has been shown to be widely effective at catching cancer earlier and improving survival rates for men.
However, this study shows that getting men to actually attend these screenings could be a big hurdle.
"This analysis focusing on attendance shows that men who participate in screening have a much-improved long-term benefit than what we've seen from previous studies," said Dr. Tobias Nordström, a clinical urologist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.
"But it highlights a group of men who need our attention, as they're more at risk of developing advanced prostate cancer and dying from it. We need to better understand why these men might actively choose not to participate in screening, despite being invited to attend, and how this behavior is linked to worse outcomes when they get a diagnosis."
RELATED: 40 Incredible Ways Your Body Changes After 40
What This Means for You
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- A weak or interrupted urine flow
- Difficulty starting or stopping urination
- An inability to fully empty your bladder
- pain or burning during urination
- Erectile dysfunction
- Blood in urine or semen
- Pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or thighs
- Unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and more
