Question: How Prevalent is Prostate Cancer?
Answer: Prostate cancer is a very prevalent disease. In 2005:
- 232,090 men will be newly diagnosed with prostate cancer, and
- 30,350 men will die of it.
This, according to the American Cancer Society's Cancer Facts and Figures 2005 report. Some other highlights and statistics regarding prostate cancer found in that report:
One in Six!
- One man in every six will get prostate cancer in his lifetime.
- For one man in 33, this will be the cause of his death.
- For men over 85, cancer is now killing more people than heart disease.
- It is the #2 Cancer killer of men (just behind lung cancer).
- It is the #6 overall killer of men.
- The prostate cancer incidence rate has increased 192 percent from 1973 and 2001.
Good News for those Diagnosed Early
Not all of the news was gloomy however, men diagnosed and managed early are living long lives:
- nearly 100 percent will live five years,
- 92 percent live ten years, and
- 61 percent will live 15 years.
Strides have been made in management of the disease: In the last 20 years, the five year survival rate has increased from 67 percent to over 99 percent.
Where you Live
- If you live in CA, FL, NY, TX or PA: You live in a state with the largest numbers of new cases of prostate cancer.
- If you live in DC, MS, AL, SC, or LA: You live in a region with the highest rate of prostate cancer deaths between 1997 and 2001.
For those living in DC, MS etc... less of you are probably being screened to catch the cancer early--not a good thing!
Summary
So what does it mean? Prostate cancer is a very prevalent cancer that kills many men every year. Strides have been made in the management and treatment of prostate cancer if it is diagnosed early.
The key point to take from this article is:
Early Detection and Treatment is KEY to a good prostate cancer outcome.
Get tested. Have the DRE and PSA every year if you are over 45 or as recommended by your doctor.
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