Prostate cancer is common, but did you know that it’s the second most common cancer diagnosed in American men? Here are eight other surprising prostate cancer statistics, according to the American Cancer Society:
- Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in American men.
- 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
- Prostate cancer has race-related risk factors and is diagnosed more frequently in African American men.
- Men under 40 are rarely diagnosed with prostate cancer.
- More than half of prostate cancer diagnoses are men who are 65 or older.
- The average age of diagnoses is 66.
- This year, 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed.
- 34,000 men will die from prostate cancer this year.
Prostate Screening is Important
More than 3 million men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer are alive today. Most men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer don’t die from it. Detection increases the likelihood of surviving prostate cancer. Men should begin prostate screenings at age 40.
The Two Parts of Prostate Cancer Screening
Screening for prostate cancer has two parts, a blood test and a digital rectal exam (DRE). Blood is drawn from the arm and analyzed to detect levels of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). PSA is a protein made by healthy and cancerous cells in the prostate. During a DRE, a doctor inserts a gloved finger in the rectum to check the prostate for abnormalities that indicate cancer. It’s important to have both parts of prostate cancer screening. Together, they provide a more complete view of your health.
Our Screening Guidelines
Urology San Antonio recommends the following screening guidelines:
| Age | Screening Recommendation |
| Under 40 | Not recommended. |
| 40 – 49 | Recommended at least once in your forties to determine baseline. Frequency determined by your doctor based on your results and risk factors. |
| 50 – 69 | Recommended yearly unless your doctor suggests a different frequency. |
| 70+ | Recommended for men with more than 10 years of life expectancy. Frequency determined by your doctor. Not recommended for men with less than 10 years of life expectancy. |
The Facts About Biopsy
The only way to know for sure if a man has prostate cancer is a biopsy. Your urologist will do a biopsy if he or she thinks you might have prostate cancer. During a biopsy, small samples of the prostate are removed and examined by a biologist. A biopsy can be done in an outpatient surgery center or a urologist’s office.