How common is prostate cancer?

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Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in males in the United States after skin cancer. Approximately 1 in 8 males in the United States will receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer in their lifetime.

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be around 288,300 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States in 2023.

Prostate cancer is also the second leading cause of cancer death in males in the United States after lung cancer. Approximately 1 male in 41 will die of prostate cancer.

Metastatic cancer

Metastatic prostate cancer occurs when prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body.

Doctors commonly discover prostate cancer in the prostate or the nearby tissues. However, around 16% of new prostate cancer cases have spread to distant locations in the body.

One 2021 study consisted of 24,407 males who had metastatic prostate cancer. Of the participants in the study, around 6.2% were between 45 and 54 years old, and over 70% were 65 years old or over.

Prostate cancer only affects males. The most common risk factor for prostate cancer is age. This means the older a male gets, the greater their risk of developing prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is rare in males under 40 years old. Approximately 60% of prostate cancer diagnoses are in males who are 65 years old or over.

According to the American Cancer Society, the average age at which males first receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer is 66 years old.

Family history

Most prostate cancer cases occur in men who do not have a family history of the disease.

However, in some cases, a person’s family history can increase their risk of developing prostate cancer.

If a person has a father or brother with prostate cancer, their risk of developing the condition more than doubles.

A person may have an increased risk of prostate cancer that occurs due to inherited genetic changes if:

• they have a first-degree relative who had prostate cancer
• they received a prostate cancer diagnosis when they were 55 years old or younger
• they received a prostate cancer diagnosis, and other members of their family have received a diagnosis for:
  • breast cancer
  • ovarian cancer
  • pancreatic cancer

There is no guaranteed way to prevent prostate cancer. However, there are some steps an individual can take that may reduce their risk of prostate cancer.

These steps include:

• achieving and maintaining a moderate weight
• being physically active
• eating a healthy, balanced diet that includes colorful fruits and vegetables and whole grains
• avoiding or limiting:
  • red and processed meats
  • sugar-sweetened beverages
  • highly processed foods
• taking aspirin

Frequent ejaculation can lower risk

There is some evidence that frequent ejaculation may reduce a person’s risk of developing prostate cancer.

One 2018 meta-analysis analyzed 22 studies on the link between sexual activity and the risk of prostate cancer. The analysis concluded that males who ejaculated two to four times per week were at a significantly decreased risk of developing prostate cancer.

A 2017 study found that frequent ejaculation between the ages of 30 and 39 years reduced the risk of developing prostate cancer. However, the same study stated that there was no evidence that frequent ejaculation between the ages of 20 and 29 years or 40 and 49 years reduced the risk.

Periodic screening for prostate cancer

Healthcare professionals may use screening tests to look for possible signs of prostate cancer. These tests can help doctors find the cancer before a person develops symptoms.

Screening can involve a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. PSA is a protein that the cells in the prostate gland make. PSA is mostly present in semen, but small amounts are also present in a person’s blood.

The higher the amount of PSA in a person’s blood, the higher their chances of having prostate cancer. During a PSA test, a healthcare professional will take a blood sample and send it to a lab to determine a person’s PSA level.

Another possible screening test for prostate cancer is a digital rectal exam (DRE). During this exam, a doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum.

The doctor then feels the prostate for any bumps or hard areas, which may be cancerous.

The following are some questions people frequently ask about prostate cancer.

What is the survival rate for prostate cancer?

A 5-year relative survival rate compares people with the same type of cancer to people in the overall population.

The National Cancer Institute estimates that the 5-year relative survival rate for prostate cancer is approximately 97.1%.

This means that, on average, males who have prostate cancer are around 97.1% as likely to live for at least 5 years after their diagnosis as males who do not have prostate cancer.

What are the initial symptoms of prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer commonly does not display any symptoms when in its early stages.

Symptoms of more advanced prostate cancer include:

• problems urinating, such as:
  • a slow or weak urinary stream
  • the need to urinate more frequently
• the presence of blood in the urine or semen
• erectile dysfunction
• weakness or numbness in the legs or feet
• loss of bladder or bowel control
• pain in the:
  • hip
  • back
  • chest

Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate grow out of control. In the United States, it is the second most common form of cancer present in males after skin cancer.

Approximately 1 in 8 males in the United States will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis.

According to the American Cancer Society, there will be an estimated 288,300 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States in 2023.

After lung cancer, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in males in the United States.