Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer: Get the Facts

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, with more than 183,000 cases diagnosed each year. In fact, one in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

But with proactive screening, this disease is highly manageable, leading to excellent long-term outcomes.

What to know about prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is more common in older men. It is more likely to occur in men with a family history of prostate cancer and in men of African American descent. Other risk factors include smoking, being overweight, and not getting enough exercise. In the United States, about one in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point during their lifetimes.

Because of effective screening options for prostate cancer, the disease is often caught before it spreads, and as a whole, survival rates are good for this type of cancer.

The American Urological Association suggests men ages 45 to 69, with an average risk for prostate cancer, talk to their doctor about whether prostate cancer testing is right for them. For men with a higher risk of getting prostate cancer, think about talking to your doctor as early as 40-54 years of age.

Prostate Cancer Risk Factors

Your risk for prostate cancer rises as you get older, have a family history of prostate cancer, are African American or have inherited gene mutations.

Age: Prostate cancer risk increases with age. About 6 in 10 cases of prostate cancer are found in those older than 65. Prostate cancer is rare in those under the age of 40.

Race/Ethnicity: People who are African American and those who are Caribbean of African ancestry face a higher risk for being diagnosed with prostate cancer. They are also more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer at younger ages. It is not clear why prostate cancer affects African Americans more than other racial/ethnic groups.

Genetic Factors: The risk of prostate cancer more than doubles in those with a family history of prostate cancer in their grandfathers, fathers or brothers. Having family members with breast and ovarian cancer also raises the risk for prostate cancer. 

As a health care tool, gene testing results can help determine whether a certain treatment may be helpful. Your health care team may suggest gene testing because of family history or because you have aggressive prostate cancer.