About 23,000 U.S. men die from prostate cancer every year, yet the disease can be found early when it’s highly curable.
So why do so many men die from this cancer?
“Despite the well-known and relatively available opportunities for the early detection of prostate cancer with the development of the prostatic specific antigen blood test since 1979, many men still avoid or ignore this opportunity,” explains Michael D. Lutz, MD, board certified urologist; Partner at Michigan Institute of Urology; President, MIU Men’s Health Foundation.
“Most men don’t understand or appreciate the benefits of early detection,” continues Dr. Lutz.
“Some are confused in the messaging as a result of the USPSTF, and many just believe that it just does not pertain to them.”
USPSTF is the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. It actually recommends against PSA-based screening for prostate cancer.
Many men, upon coming upon this information, will then neglect to get an annual PSA count.
But fact is, the estimated number of men who will die from prostate cancer in the U.S. for 2017 is 23,730 – according to the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program.
Dr. Lutz says it best: “The reality is that prostate cancer can kill you, especially if diagnosed later in its course and if you are of African descent.”
This doesn’t mean that being white is protective against prostate cancer.
It simply means that for unknown reasons, more blacks than whites are diagnosed with it.
U.S. blacks are 1.67 times more likely to be diagnosed with this disease than are whites. They are 2.24 times more likely than whites to die from prostate cancer.
These statistics exclude Hispanics, American Indians, Asians and other races that do not fall under the classic category of Caucasian.
“Early detection and beginning at the appropriate age based upon your risk factors is essential to avoid becoming a statistic,” says Dr. Lutz.
Five-year relative survival for prostate cancer
