Prostate cancer develops in a man’s prostate gland, located below the bladder, near the rectum and around the urethra. It is responsible for the production of a fluid that is expelled in sperm during ejaculation. Prostate cancer develops when the cells in the prostate grow out of control, instead of dividing and dying like the healthy cells.

The disease affects the reproductive and urinary systems, causing symptoms such as a need to urinate frequently, especially at night; difficulty starting urination or holding back urine; weak or interrupted flow of urine; painful or burning urination; erectile dysfunction; painful ejaculation; blood in urine or semen; and frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs. Statistics about prostate cancer can help patients understand what they are facing.

Prostate Cancer Statistics on Life and Death

Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among American men, after skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), more than two million U.S. men are prostate cancer survivors.

ACS statistics indicate there will be about 180,890 new cases of prostate cancer in the U.S. in 2016 and about 26,000 deaths. The ACS believes that one in every seven men are diagnosed with the disease during their lifetime. It is more common among older men, and six out of every 10 cases are diagnosed in men ages 65 or older; it is rare in men younger than 40. The average age at the time of diagnosis is 66.

Lung cancer is the deadliest type of cancer, while prostate cancer is ranked as the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. One in every 38 men die of prostate cancer.

“Prostate cancer can be a serious disease, but most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it. In fact, more than 2.9 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today,” the ACS states.

Statistics of Prostate Cancer-Related Trends

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) also emphasizes that “keeping track of the number of new cases, deaths, and survival over time (trends) can help scientists understand whether progress is being made and where additional research is needed to address challenges, such as improving screening or finding better treatments.”

The number of new cases have been falling on average 4.3 percent annually over the last decade, while the death rates decreased on average 3.5 percent each year. In 1975, the five-year relative survival was only 66 percent, which increased to 88.4 percent in 1990 and is currently placed at 99.9 percent.

Regarding racial trends, prostate cancer has a higher incidence and is more deadly among African-American men, followed by non-Hispanics and Caucasians, while Asian and American Indian men are the races with lower incidences of the disease.

“In general prostate cancer has excellent survival rates, but death rates are higher in African-American men, men who have advanced stage cancer, and men who are between the ages of 75 and 84,” the NIH says.

Note: Prostate Cancer News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.