Types of Cancer > Prostate Cancer > Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers about Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is on the rise, yet it is one of the most detectable and treatable cancers. What do you need to know to protect yourself or a loved one from this disease? This Q&A will give you the basics.

Q. How common is prostate cancer?
A. Very. In fact, after skin cancers, it is the most common cancer in America, affecting one out of six men. This year, more than 234,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and more than 27,000 will die from the disease. More than two million American men are estimated to be living with prostate cancer with the emphasis on "living," because the cure rate is very high.

Q. How does prostate cancer compare with other cancers?
A. Non-smoking men develop prostate cancer at a higher rate than lung, colon, rectal, bladder, melanoma, lymphoma and kidney cancers combined. Men are 35 percent more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than women are to be diagnosed with breast cancer. So this is a very prevalent disease that must be taken seriously.

Q. Who is likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer?
A. Older age, African American genealogy, and a family history of the disease are all contributing factors. The risk increases dramatically with age. Although only one in 10,000 men under 40 will be diagnosed, from ages 40-59 the rate rises to one in 38, and rises further to one in 14 for men 60-69. More than 65 percent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over 65.

African American men are 61 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer compared with Caucasian men, with fatality rates nearly 2.5 times higher. Men with a family history of prostate cancer are twice as likely to develop the disease, while those with two or more affected relatives are nearly four times as likely.

Q. How curable is prostate cancer?
A. In most cases, the earlier the cancer is caught, the more likely the treated patient will remain disease-free. Thanks to effective screening techniques, close to 90 percent of all prostate cancers are detected at early stages. Thus, the cure rate is very high. Nearly 100 percent of men diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer will be disease-free after five years. That's why it is so important to get annual screenings, and pay attention to any warning signs.

Q. What are the warning signs of prostate cancer?
A. If the cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms. But some men will experience frequent, hesitant, or burning urination, difficulty having an erection, or pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips or upper thighs.

Q. How is prostate cancer detected?
A. Screening can be performed in a physician's office using two simple tests: the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test and the digital rectal exam (DRE). The American Cancer Society recommends that both the PSA and DRE be offered annually, beginning at age 50. Men at high risk, such as African Americans and those with a strong family history, should begin testing even earlier - depending on your doctors recommendation.

Q. How is prostate cancer treated?
A. Treatments vary widely depending on the individual case. Options include surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and chemotherapy, used in appropriate combinations. A patient will typically consult with three types of prostate cancer specialists: a urologist, radiation oncologist and medical oncologist. Together they can provide the most comprehensive treatment program.