What is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer begins when cells in the prostate gland start to grow out of control. Some prostate cancers grow and spread quickly, but most grow slowly.
By the Numbers
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, affecting 1 in 8 men. Despite the prevalence of prostate cancer, it is highly treatable if detected early. Today, 3.3 million men living in the United States have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point.
1 in 8
men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime
70%
the number of new cases diagnosed in Black men is 70% higher than the number of new cases diagnosed in White men. Black men are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer than other men
6 in 10
prostate cancers diagnosed in men who are 65 or older. Prostate cancer risk is also higher in African American men and in Caribbean men of African ancestry than in men of other races
299,010
the estimated number of new prostate cancer cases amongst American men in 2024
35,250
an estimate on the number of American men who will die of prostate cancer in 2024
67
average age of a prostate cancer diagnosis in America
3.3
million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer are still alive today
#2
after skin cancer more American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer than any other type of cancer.
(sources: American Cancer Society, updated 2024; Cancer.net, 2023; CDC, July, 2023)
What are the Causes/Risks of Prostate Cancer?
While there is no known cause for Prostate Cancer, there are several risk factors that researchers have identified. Having a risk factor, or even several risk factors, does not mean that you will get the disease. Many people with one or several risk factors never get cancer, while others who are diagnosed with prostate cancer may have had few or no known risk factors.
These risk factors include:
Age
The chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after the age of 50. About 6 out of 10 cases of prostate cancer are found in men older than 65.
Race/Ethnicity
While the reasons are unclear, prostate cancer seems to develop more often in African-American men and in Caribbean men of African ancestry than in men of other races. And when it does develop in these men, they tend to be younger. Prostate cancer also occurs less often in Asian-American and Hispanic/Latino men than in Non- Hispanic whites.
Geography
Again it is unclear as to why, but prostate cancer is most common in North America, northwestern Europe, Australia, and on Caribbean Islands. Reasons for this may be due to lifestyle and diet, or because more intensive screening methods exist in these areas.
Family History
Prostate cancer seems to run in some families, although many people do get it without any family history. Nonetheless, having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk of developing the disease.
According to the American Cancer Society
There are other factors with a less clear effect on the risk for prostate cancer, but should be considered regardless. These include smoking, diet and obesity, all of which have been shown to contribute to the risk for various cancers.
What are the Signs/Symptoms of Prostate Cancer?
In its early stages, there are generally no signs of prostate cancer. The most effective way to find it early is through regular screening with your physician who will test your prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels. If these levels are high, it often indicates a potential for prostate cancer.
What are Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer?
Treatment of prostate cancer varies depending on the type of cancer with which a patient has been diagnosed. Some prostate cancers are small in size and slow-growing. These only need to be carefully monitored - they are under “active surveillance.”
If a prostate cancer requires additional treatment, there are several traditional options available including the following:
- Radiation
- Robotic Prostatectomy
- Complete gland removal
- Chemotherapy/hormone therapy
Most of these therapies carry potential negative side effects, primarily urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. However, THE TULSA PROCEDURE offers an incision-free alternative to treating prostate cancer, without the risk for adverse side effects.
LEARN MORE ABOUT TULSA PRO