Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. In fact, it is estimated that more than 230,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), after lung cancer, prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among American men. The good news, however, is that the current survival rate is 97 percent. On average, an American man has a 30 percent risk of having prostate cancer in his lifetime, but only a 3 percent risk of dying of the disease.
The other good news is that among all racial and ethnic groups, prostate cancer death rates are declining. Perhaps the most encouraging prostate cancer statistic is that more men die with prostate cancer than from prostate cancer. The reason could be twofold: prostate cancer typically affects men older than 65 and, it is often a slowly progressing disease.
The UCSF Prostate Cancer Center is dedicated to providing the best comprehensive care for those with the disease and those at risk of developing it.
For many men, a diagnosis of prostate cancer can be frightening not only because of the threat to their life, but because of the threat to their life style, particularly sexual function. The possible consequences of treatment, including bladder control problems and impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction, can be a greater worry for some men than the cancer itself. If prostate cancer is detected early — when it's still confined to the prostate — you have a better chance of successful treatment with minimal or short-term side effects.
Here are other some other significant prostate cancer statistics:
Prostate cancer often doesn't produce any symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms that may indicate prostate cancer, and which should be followed up with a visit to the doctor, include:
Although these symptoms may indicate prostate cancer, they also can be caused by other conditions that are not cancer, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). As men age, the prostate often enlarges and can press on and block the urethra and bladder, producing some of the symptoms described above. BPH can be successfully treated with medication or surgery.
The two most commonly used methods for screening are the digital rectal exam and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.
Your team of doctors will help you decide which prostate cancer treatment is the best, most effective option for you. Each treatment has its benefits, risks and impacts on quality of life. Several treatments are very successful in providing a cure or keeping the cancer under control for many years. Most men with prostate cancer are living testimony to this.
Some prostate cancers grow quickly and spread — or metastasize — to other parts of the body. If unchecked, these cancers can be fatal. Most prostate cancers, however, are slow growing and in many cases, immediate treatment isn't necessary. Many men take several months to decide what to do. The decision can be complicated. You should consider the pros and cons of the various treatments, get second opinions and decide what is best for you, all of which may take time.
Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Prostate Cancer Center
1600 Divisadero St., Third Floor
San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: (415) 353-7171
Fax: (415) 353-7093
Appointment information
Prostate Cancer Risk and Prevention
1600 Divisadero St, Third Floor
San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: (415) 353-7171
Fax: (415) 353-7093
Appointment information
