top of page

PROSTATE CANCER - Little Known Facts

​

Fact sheet compiled by Bill Doss   

​

  • Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in American men, second only to non-fatal skin cancer.

  • In the average American family, the husband has a greater risk of developing prostate cancer than the wife has of developing breast cancer.

  • 180,890 American men are forecast to be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year.

  • 26,120 American men are forecast to die from this deadly disease this year. 

  • Every 20 minutes, 24/7, an American man dies from prostate cancer.

  • Prostate cancer usually has no symptoms in its early stage and there are no self-tests for this disease.

  • The 5-year survival rate approaches 100% if malignant prostate cancer is treated in its early stage.

  • The 5-year survival rate drops to 28% if malignant prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body.

  • African American men have the highest prostate cancer incidence rates in the world.

  • African American men have a prostate cancer mortality rate that is more than twice as high as that of any other racial group.

  • More than 2.9 million men are living in the USA today with a history of prostate cancer.

  • 1 out of every 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

  • 1 out of every 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

  • $80.0 million Congressional funding for prostate cancer.  (CDMRP* FY 2015)

  • $120.5 million Congressional funding for breast cancer.  (CDMRP* FY 2015) (50.6% difference)

  • 42% of existing male cancer cases in California are prostate cancer cases.

  • 43% of existing female cancer cases in California are breast cancer cases.

  • The Median Age at diagnosis for prostate cancer is age 66.  For women’s breast cancer, it’s age 61.

  • The death rate from prostate cancer and breast cancer is comparable.

  • The Affordable Care Act provides free breast cancer screening, but not free prostate cancer screening.

  • Men have a 50% higher risk factor for developing any type of cancer than women have.

 

CDMRP* Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs.  The above information comes from the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute. It is available at www.cancer.org and www.cancer.gov

 

Many cancer research centers and advocacy groups suggest that every man consider having a prostate cancer test at age 40 to establish a baseline for future reference.  Men with a family history of prostate cancer and African American men should consider having this test at age 35.  The basic prostate cancer test consists of a simple blood test called a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) followed by a DRE (digital rectal exam). 

Both of these simple tests can be conducted in the local doctor’s office. 

 

bottom of page