Leveraging Awareness and Education for Prostate Cancer Prevention

September's Prostate Cancer Awareness Month spotlights a central tension in men's health: PSA-based screening may reduce prostate cancer mortality for some, yet it can also lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Awareness efforts, including webinars and community outreach, aim to support informed, guideline-based decisions rather than promise universal benefit.

September's awareness campaigns are associated with increased information seeking and, in some settings, greater screening uptake, energized by higher search volumes and public interest. This cross-border study highlights how targeted campaigns direct more individuals to screenings and reliable information, with actual shifts in stage at diagnosis depending on access and guideline-concordant screening.

Amidst these campaigns, the role of the PSA test stands out as a pivotal element. Current guidelines emphasize shared decision-making, particularly for men in the typical screening window, and caution against routine testing at older ages or for those with limited life expectancy. Reports from key awareness initiatives describe the PSA test’s potential benefits while acknowledging variability in outcomes and the risk of overdiagnosis.

Educational webinars during Urology Month offer an avenue for promoting prostate health literacy, adapting traditional outreach to a digital audience. Recent educational efforts illustrate how such initiatives can engage communities and support informed conversations with clinicians.

Yet, webinars are just one facet of a broader educational strategy. To elevate prostate cancer awareness, initiatives can integrate community outreach with practical tools to maximize accessibility and impact. As shown in a JNCI Cancer Spectrum study on multicomponent awareness campaigns, crafting coordinated efforts helps men access clear, actionable information.

Equity remains central to the awareness mission introduced at the outset. Reaching men in rural areas, those without a regular source of care, and communities historically underrepresented in research requires tailored approaches and partnerships that reflect local needs, while keeping the benefits–harms balance of screening front and center.

Decision aids and clinician–patient discussions can translate population-level guidance into individual choices. By returning to the opening tension—potential benefit versus potential harm—these tools help men weigh personal values such as peace of mind, aversion to unnecessary procedures, and willingness to pursue follow-up testing.

Practical next steps align with the earlier sections: confirm your personal risk factors and preferences with a clinician, understand the possible outcomes of testing and not testing, and, where appropriate, schedule screening in a way that follows guideline-concordant intervals rather than one-time, reactive testing.

Looking beyond individual campaigns, guideline summaries, benefits and harms, and access considerations all converge on a single aim introduced in the opening: helping men make informed choices that fit their values.

Key takeaways:

• September campaigns are associated with increased awareness and interest in screening, which can prompt informed conversations.
• PSA-based screening may reduce prostate cancer mortality for some when pursued through guideline-based shared decision-making, while acknowledging risks of overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
• Educational webinars and similar initiatives can build health literacy and engagement, supporting informed choices.
• Blending digital tools (e.g., SMS reminders, EHR prompts) with community outreach (e.g., health fairs, partnerships) can broaden access and impact.