One-fifth of men under 50 do prostate test

DURHAM, N.C., Aug. 12 (UPI) -- One-fifth of men under age 50 report having had a prostate specific antigen test to detect prostate cancer in the previous year, U.S. researchers say.

Researchers at Duke University Medicine's Prostate Center said only one in three young black men reported having had a PSA test in the previous year.

Senior author Dr. Judd W. Moul and first author Dr. Charles Scales reviewed the 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an ongoing, state-based, random telephone survey of the U.S. population.

The study, published ahead of print in the journal Cancer Sept. 15, young black men were more likely than young, white, non-Hispanic men to report having a PSA screening in the previous year. The survey also showed that younger Hispanic men were more likely to undergo PSA testing than younger white non-Hispanic men.

Health insurance, an ongoing physician-patient relationship, increasing obesity,and high household income and education level were also associated with having a recent PSA test.

Guidelines encourage prostate cancer screening in men age 50 or older if they have a life expectancy of at least 10 years. High-risk groups, such as African Americans or those men with a positive family history, are encouraged to have a baseline screening at age 40.