POPULATIONS AT RISK:
Prostate Cancer In the United States, prostate cancer ranks as the most commonly diagnosed serious cancer in men.
About 220,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States. About 27,000 of the men diagnosed will die of this disease. Most prostate cancers grow slowly and don't cause symptoms unless cancer cells spread through the body. Many older men will develop "silent" prostate cancer that produces few if any symptoms and does not affect life expectancy. Today, most men are diagnosed with prostate cancer when it is at an early stage. With appropriate treatment, the outcome is usually excellent. About 80 percent to 90 percent of cancers that have not spread outside the prostate can be cured. Although chances for a cure are much lower once cancer has spread, many men still survive for years or even decades after their cancer is diagnosed. | The Risk Factors | | Your age. All men are at risk of prostate cancer as they age. A few men in their 40s and 50s will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, but almost three-quarters (75 percent) are age 65 or older.
Your race. African-American men are more than 50 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than are men from any other racial or ethnic group. Researchers suspect that genetic differences may help to explain the higher rates of prostate cancer among African-American men. In addition, diet or lifestyle factors may play a role.
Furthermore, African-American men are more likely to develop an aggressive form of prostate cancer, and they are more likely to die of the disease once they have been diagnosed. Although genetic factors may play a role in how prostate cancer behaves, some studies have suggested that African-American men are less likely to be screened for prostate cancer and may get less-effective medical care.
Your diet. A diet high in saturated fat has been linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer.
Your family history. About 5 percent to 10 percent of prostate cancers are considered to be hereditary. Having a father or brother who has prostate cancer doubles your risk. Having more than one close family member affected by the disease increases your risk even further. | | African-American - African American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world. In the United States, an African American man has a 60% higher risk of developing prostate cancer compared with white male of comparable age.
- African-American men are more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer than are white men.
- Only 66 percent of African-American men with prostate cancer survive at least five years after diagnosis versus 81 percent of white men.
Asian And American Indian - Asian and American Indian men develop prostate cancer much less frequently than either white or African-American men.
Hispanic - Hispanic men are about 15 percent less likely than non-Hispanic white American men to develop prostate cancer.
In addition to having higher rates of prostate cancer, African-American men may be less likely to seek or receive treatment and, as a result, are more likely to die of this disease. When they do receive adequate treatment, African-American men with prostate cancer appear to live as long as white men after diagnosis. The good news is that researchers are looking for a genetic basis for prostate cancer, with the hope that this information may improve the ability to diagnose and treat this disease in the future. Talk to your doctor about getting tested. Experts disagree about whether all men should be screened routinely for prostate cancer. Nonetheless, regular screening greatly increases the chances that prostate cancer will be detected at an early stage. The American Cancer Society recommends that all men be offered routine screening for prostate cancer starting at age 50 and that African-American men consider screening at age 45. Screening for prostate cancer usually involves a doctor's exam of the prostate and a blood test known as the prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, test. If you do not have a doctor or cannot afford to see one, call your local health department or visit your local community health center. Most neighborhood clinics will see you regardless of your ability to pay; you do not need to have health insurance. In addition, staff members usually come from the community and are likely to be sensitive to your cultural beliefs and needs (for example, language barriers). Lead a healthy lifestyle. Eating a diet that is low in fat and abundant in fresh fruits and vegetables and getting regular exercise may lower your risk of prostate cancer, as well as cancer affecting other parts of the body. Educate yourself and your family. Learn more about prostate cancer and the PSA test. By learning more about this disease, you will be armed with the knowledge you need to take charge of your health. Get additional help. Many government and private organizations, including the following, have excellent outreach programs. National Cancer Institute (NCI) Building 31 Room 10A03 31 Center Dr., MSC 2580 Bethesda, MD 20892-2580 Phone: (301) 435-3848 Toll-Free: (800) 422-6237 http://www.nci.nih.gov/ American Cancer Society (ACS) 1599 Clifton Rd., NE Atlanta, GA 30329-4251 Toll-Free: (800) 227-2345 http://www.cancer.org/ | Back to top
Last updated November 05, 2007
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