Prostate cancer is a disease of aging.
In the past, men in the United States averaged between 72 and 74 years of age when diagnosed with this disease. Any man over age 50 should be screened routinely for prostate cancer. African American men could start the screening at age 45 because they are in a higher risk group and contract prostate cancer more commonly than Caucasians. Men with a family history of prostate cancer may want to start the screening at age 45 as well. When prostate cancer is diagnosed early, there are no symptoms.