(HealthDayNews) --The American Cancer Society recommends men age 50 and older speak to their doctor about annual screening for prostate cancer. If you have a family history of the disease, it's advisable to be screened more frequently and at an earlier age.

Here are some screening tips provided by the Harvard Medical Center:

• Catching prostate cancer in its early stages doesn't always mean it's more treatable.
• Treatment can sometimes cause other problems, like impotence and incontinence.
• Before you get screened, talk to a doctor about the risks and benefits of the test and treatment.
• The most effective screening test is a PSA (prostate-specific antigen). A high PSA level doesn't automatically mean you have prostate cancer. Other tests will be needed to be sure.