Six in 10 Indian men over 45 don’t know if they’ve ever been screened for prostate cancer

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NEW DELHI: A survey by the Heal Foundation has found that nearly six in ten Indian men aged 45 and above cannot say whether they have ever been screened for prostate cancer, while only about one in six report having undergone the test at some point.

The study covered 1,036 men across Delhi-NCR, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra, and points to substantial gaps in awareness of risk factors, screening protocols and when to seek medical advice. Though 62% of respondents said they go for annual health check-ups, 60.8% could not state their prostate cancer screening status and only around 16% reported ever having been screened.

Awareness of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test was similarly thin: only about 31% had heard of PSA as a marker, and just 14% had specifically requested the test. Some 69% of respondents could not name a single risk factor, with only 13.2% identifying family history as one. Around three-fourths of those polled believed prostate cancer monitoring should begin only at age 50 or later.

“These findings point to a fundamental awareness gap around prostate cancer,” said Dr Devavrat Arya, vice-chairman of medical oncology at Max Healthcare, Delhi. He said awareness of risk factors, screening and when to consult a doctor needed to become a more visible part of routine health conversations among men over 45.

The survey found 59.5% of men were uncomfortable discussing screening or treatment with doctors, and only 18% would initiate the conversation themselves. While 67% said they trusted doctors and hospitals, just 36% identified a urologist as the appropriate specialist. Meanwhile, 84% searched online or on social media for health information.

The largest barriers to screening were the belief that it was unnecessary (34%), having no symptoms (28%) and not receiving a doctor’s recommendation (22%). Cost (19%), embarrassment or privacy concerns (17%), fear of diagnosis (14%) and not knowing where to go (11%) were also cited.

Gaps widened with age. Around 72% of men aged 65 and above were unsure of their screening status, and 80% reported low levels of treatment knowledge. Overall, 71.2% had limited knowledge of treatment options, only 10% felt confident across the treatment pathway, and 44% wanted a second opinion before treatment.

Dr Nitesh Rohatgi, principal director of medical oncology at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, said symptoms in older men were often dismissed as ageing, delaying diagnosis, while awareness of advanced treatments such as radioligand therapy remained limited even after diagnosis.

The findings highlight the need for greater risk awareness and informed discussions with doctors. However, the survey reflects self-reported awareness and screening experiences, and does not measure prostate cancer prevalence or screening rates among all Indian men.

Source: Times of India, by Anuja Jaiswal / TNN (Oct 19, 2026). Original URL: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/6-in-10-men-over-45-unaware-of-their-prostate-cancer-screening-status-survey/articleshow/135041788.cms

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