Fast facts about prostate cancer all men should know
By Metro Creative
Preventive health care encompasses a host of strategies designed to reduce individuals’ risk for conditions and diseases that can adversely affect their quality of life. Routine exercise and a commitment to a nutritious diet are two such strategies, and each can go a long way toward protecting an individual’s long-term health.
Education is another key component of preventive health care. By educating themselves about their own family histories and additional variables that may increase their risk of developing certain conditions, individuals can take steps to mitigate that risk.
The World Health Organization reports that roughly one in five people across the globe develop cancer in their lifetime. Prostate cancer poses a unique threat to men. The WHO notes prostate cancer is the second most commonly occurring cancer in men, and recognition of that threat may compel men to learn more about the disease. Data does not tell the whole story of prostate cancer, but some fast facts about the disease can serve as a springboard to learning more about it and what, if anything, can be done to prevent it.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation reports that one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime.
Rates of prostate cancer are higher among Black men. According to the PCF, one in six Black men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime. In addition, Black men are more than twice as likely to die from the disease.
Estimates from the PCF indicate just under 300,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2024, and roughly 35,000 men will die from the disease.
Men with first-degree relatives who have had prostate cancer may be twice as likely to develop the disease. First-degree relatives include a father, brother or a son. Men are urged to learn their family medical histories so they can identify their own individual risk for prostate cancer.
The American Cancer Society reports that roughly six in 10 prostate cancers are found in men older than 65. However, the ACS also notes that the chances of being diagnosed with prostate cancer increase significantly after age 50. And while instances of prostate cancer in men younger than 40 are rare, men 39 and younger can still develop the disease.
Five-year survival rates for prostate cancer are high when the disease is detected in the localized or regional stages. Localized indicates there is no sign the cancer has spread beyond the prostate, while regional means the cancer has spread to nearby structures or lymph nodes. The five-year survival rate for these stages is greater than 99 percent.
Prostate cancer poses a notable threat to men. Understanding that threat and what can be done to mitigate it is an integral component of preventive health care.
— Metro Creative
