BALTIMORE, Sept. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Most people expect cancer to come with warning signs, but when it comes to prostate cancer, one of the most common cancers diagnosed in people with prostates, early disease often causes no symptoms at all.
That reality is one reason experts are encouraging people with prostates to learn their risk factors, talk with their doctors about screening, and make informed decisions about their health during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. This September, the Urology Care Foundation (UCF), the official foundation of the American Urological Association (AUA), is launching its PROstate of Mind awareness campaign to help people know their risk, know their options, and start the conversation.
Too often, people wait until something feels wrong before seeking care. However, because prostate cancer can develop silently, understanding personal risk factors and talking with a health care provider about screening can be an important part of maintaining long-term health.
“A lot of guys still avoid PSA testing because they think a positive result has to lead to surgery and all its side effects,” said Adam Weiner, MD, a urologic oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. “That is not how we practice anymore. AUA guidelines focus on personalized screening based on an individual’s risk and additional tests before even suggesting a biopsy. Active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer has greatly decreased overtreatment for men. Getting screened gives you more information, not a treatment plan. Deciding what’s best for you after that PSA test is a conversation between you and your urologist.”
Know Your Risk
Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among people with prostates. The AUA recommends that people with prostates at average risk discuss prostate cancer screening with their health care provider beginning between the ages of 45 and 50. While anyone with a prostate can develop the disease, some individuals face a higher risk.
Risk factors include:
- Being age 45 or older
- Having a family history of prostate cancer
- Being Black
- Having certain inherited genetic mutations
Understanding these risk factors can help people make informed decisions about screening and discussions with their health care providers.
Don’t Wait for Symptoms
One of the most important facts about prostate cancer is that early-stage disease often causes no symptoms at all.
When symptoms do occur, they may include:
- Frequent urination
- Difficulty starting urination
- Weak urine stream
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Pain during urination
- Erectile dysfunction
- Pain in the lower back, hips, or pelvis
These symptoms do not necessarily mean someone has prostate cancer and may be caused by other conditions. However, anyone experiencing concerning symptoms should speak with a health care provider.
“After 16 years as a prostate cancer patient and advocate, I’ve met many men who had no symptoms and no family history before their diagnosis,” said Gabe Canales, prostate cancer survivor and patient advocate. “For some, like me, a PSA test was what first signaled that something might be wrong. That’s why being proactive matters. Learn about prostate health, understand your individual risk, and talk with your doctor about when PSA testing may be appropriate for you. Don’t wait for symptoms to start the conversation.”
Know Your Options
Today’s prostate cancer care is not one-size-fits-all. Depending on the type and stage of cancer, management options may include:
- Active surveillance
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Hormone therapy
- Other treatment approaches
Many people diagnosed with prostate cancer can work closely with their health care team to determine the management strategy that best fits their needs, overall health, and personal preferences.
Stay in a PROstate of Mind
Throughout September, the Urology Care Foundation will share free educational resources, videos, patient stories, and social media content designed to help people with prostates better understand prostate cancer risk factors, screening, symptoms, and treatment options.
Visit the Urology Care Foundation’s Prostate Cancer Information Center for trusted, expert-reviewed information, downloadable resources, and tools to help you make informed decisions about your health. Follow the Foundation on X, Facebook, or Instagram throughout September for additional educational content and resources.
This Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, remember: Know Your Risk. Know Your Options. Stay in a PROstate of Mind.
About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology and has nearly 24,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy.
About the Urology Care Foundation: The Urology Care Foundation is the world’s leading nonprofit urological health foundation, and the official foundation of the American Urological Association. Collaborating with physicians, researchers, patients, and the public, the Foundation supports, through philanthropic efforts, the improvement of urologic clinical care globally by funding research, clinical education, patient education, and humanitarian programs. To learn more about the Urology Care Foundation and its programs, visit: www.urologyhealth.org.
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Corey Del Bianco Urology Care Foundation 410-689-4033 cdelbianco@auanet.org
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