American Cancer Society report finds spike in prostate cancer cases

(CBS, KYMA/KECY) - There's a troubling spike in prostate cancer cases. After years of decline, rates are now rising.

A new American Cancer Society report finds rates of prostate cancer increased 3% a year from 2014 to 2021. The steepest increase was for advanced stage diagnoses.

Researchers say men were screened less between 2008 and 2018 due to a fear of overdiagnosis and overtreatment, and now it's possible those missed cases are being caught, some at later stages.

"So a lot fewer diagnoses were made. Then in 2018 it changed, more shared decision making. You saw an uptick in PSA screening to look for prostate cancer so you saw an increase in cases. Why you're seeing more metastatic and advanced disease, it could be because the cases that were not diagnosed 10 years ago are now becoming more advanced."

Dr. Jon LaPook, CBS News Medical Contributor

It's now recommended men at average risk get screened for prostate cancer at 50, Black men with a family history at 45, and men with multiple relatives with prostate cancer at 40.