How Big of a Risk is Prostate Cancer for Men?

1. Prostate cancer is a concern for all men as they age. This condition is, in fact, expected to strike at least 160,000 American men in the coming year. About 26,000 men die annually from the disease. While the numbers may not seem all that intimidating, the truth is about one in seven men will be diagnosed with this condition during the course of their lifetimes. Roughly six out of 10 cases are diagnosed in men age 65 and older. It is only very rarely that men are diagnosed before the age of 40. Men will find that their personal risks for prostate cancer may vary based on several factors. Age, of course, plays a role in raising the odds of developing this condition. Ethnicity, too, may dramatically raise a man’s personal risks. African American men tend to be at higher risk for prostate cancer than their Caucasian counterparts. Men of Asian-American and Hispanic-Latino descent are at lower risk, but still may develop the disease. Family history and certain genetic mutations may also increase risk. Although prostate cancer’s survivability is quite favorable compared with many other forms of cancer, the risk all men face should not be underestimated. The high survival rate is due, partly, to routine screening and early intervention that may result from such procedures. Given the fact that all men are technically at risk, the need for routine screening as men age is high. Men should talk to their doctors about when screening should begin. In most cases, screening will be recommended later in life. Certain risk factors, such as family history and ethnicity, however, may make earlier screening smart to consider. Prostate cancer is a fairly big risk for all men. With that in mind, it is strongly recommended that men talk with their doctors about screening. Early detection is key to increasing the odds of a positive outcome.