Sources: US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Cancer.org

Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer Amercian men will face.  1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.  The American Cancer Society 2012 estimates for prostate cancer in the United States are:

  • 241,740 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed
  • 28,170 men will die of prostate cancer

The average age at the time of diagnosis is about 67.  Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, behind only lung cancer.  1 in 36 men will die from prostate cancer.  However a good percentage of men diagnosed with prostate cancer will survive:

  • The relative 5-year survival rate is nearly 100%
  • The relative 10-year survival rate is 98%
  • The 15-year relative survival rate is 91%

A note on survival rates:  The 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed.  Some will live longer and some will only live 5 more years after a diagnosis. Keep in mind that 5-year survival rates are based on patients diagnosed and first treated more than 5 years ago, and 10-year survival rates are based on patients diagnosed more than 10 years ago. Modern methods of detection and treatment mean that many prostate cancers are now found earlier and can be treated more effectively. If you are diagnosed this year, your outlook may be better than the numbers reported above.  These survival rates are based on previous outcomes of large numbers of men who had the disease, but they cannot predict what will happen in any particular man’s case.

Risk Factors

Not all men with these risk factors will develop prostate cancers, but more will than not.

  • Age –More thatn 65% of prostate cancer diagnoses are made over age 65
  • Race -African Amercian Males are 60% more likely to be diagnosed than Caucausians and have 2.5x more mortality.  Asian men (living in Asia) have the lowest risk
  • Genetics -Family history is important.  Having a father or brother with prostate cancer increases the risk 2x
  • Geography -Men who live North of Philadephia PA (40 degrees latitute) have the highest risk of death from prostate cancer.  The theory is that inadequate sunlight for 3 months every year decreases vitamin D
  • Smoking -While a risk factor for ALL cancers, smoking has been linked with more aggressive prostate cancer
  • Diet -A lack of leafy green vegetables is associated with more aggressive prostate cancer
  • BMI (Body Mass Index) -Obesity is linked with more aggressive prostate cancer

Signs of Prostate Cancer

These are just some of the symptoms associated with prostate cancer.  Some men have no symptoms at all : Weak or interrupted flow of urine; Frequent urination (especially at night); Trouble urinating; Pain or burning during urination; Blood in the urine or semen; Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis; Painful ejaculation; Elevated PSA (prostate specific antigen).

Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Although treatment options vary depending upon the stage of prostate cancer, these are the most common current treatment options for men:

  • Watchful waiting -That’s correct.  The most common treatment is doing nothing but waiting until the cancer reveals itself on testing or scanning
  • Radical prostatectomy -Surgery to remove the prostate, with newer robotic guidance it may be possible to remove the prostate without damaging nerves that are necessary for an erection
  • External-beam radiation therapy -Directed to the prostate and any areas of potential spread
  • Implant radiation therapy -With radioactive “seeds”
  • High-intensity focused ultrasound -Designed to break up the tumor to facilitate removal
  • Experimental treatment

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and you believe there was a delay in the diagnosis, contact the Lewis Law Firm for a free consultation and opinion.  The Lewis Law Firm has a history of litigating cases of delayed diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Posted by:  David M. Schwadron, Esquire