Understanding Prostate Cancer, its Implications and Diagnosis
Photo courtesy Kaiser Permanente
With June being Men’s Health Month, did you know that approximately 313,780 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and around 35,770 men are expected to die from the disease, according to American Cancer Society.
This makes prostate cancer the most common cancer among men (excluding skin cancer) and the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men, after lung cancer.
That’s why early detection and treatment of prostate cancer is so important, and why men should be aware of what they can do to lower their chances of becoming inflicted with the disease, said Dr. Viet Q. Tran, chief of service, Urology Department, Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center.
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, out of every 100 American men, about 13 will get prostate cancer during their lifetime, and about 2 to 3 men will die from prostate cancer,” Dr. Tran said. “The most common risk factor is age. The older a man is, the greater the chance of getting prostate cancer. However, if detected early – and with proper treatment – most men can survive prostate cancer.”
According to recent data, prostate cancer is increasingly being diagnosed in younger men, a trend that has become more noticeable over the past decade.
Here are some key points:
Early onset prostate cancer (diagnosed before age 55) now accounts for about 10% of new prostate cancer cases in the U.S.
There has been a global increase in prostate cancer diagnoses among men aged 15 to 40.
The average age at diagnosis remains around 67–68 years, but the shift toward younger diagnoses is attributed to increased awareness, more frequent screening, and possibly genetic or environmental factors.
Younger men diagnosed with prostate cancer often present with more aggressive forms of the disease and may have lower survival rates compared to older men.
“Researchers are still investigating the causes behind this trend, including potential roles of genetics, lifestyle factors, and environmental exposures,” added Dr. Tran.
noted.
Detecting prostate cancer in its early stages when it’s most treatable is key to recovery and survival, noted Dr. Tran. One way to discover prostate cancer early is through an annual PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test.
“A PSA blood test is simple and non-invasive and can be the difference between life and death,” Dr. Tran said. “This type of test is critically important, especially for men with a family history of prostate cancer. It’s also critically important for Black men, whose mortality rate from prostate cancer is twice that of men of other races.”
While the general guidelines recommend PSA tests starting at age 55, men may need PSA screening between the ages of 40 and 54 if they have at least one first-degree relative (such as a father or brother) who has had prostate cancer. The same goes if they have at least two extended family members who have had prostate cancer.
Men with family history of prostate cancer, as well as Black men, need to be screened for prostate cancer once per year starting age at 40, Dr. Tran recommended. In these two populations, earlier diagnosis is even more important due to higher risk of developing prostate cancer.
“Men with prostate cancer typically don’t exhibit any symptoms until in its later, more advanced stages of the disease,” Dr. Tran said. “Those symptoms include back pain, swelling of the legs, weight loss and difficulty urinating. That’s why early detection by having a PSA blood test is so critical.”
Kaiser Permanente offers valuable information related to prostate cancer and screening.