Prostate Cancer Among Most Common Male Cancer BY DOMINIQUE HUFF
Did you know that one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime? Prostate cancer is more likely to develop in older men and non-Hispanic black men. About six cases in 10 are diagnosed in men who are 65 years old or older. The Zero Cancer initiative reports new research shows that prostate cancer continues to be one of the most prevalent cancers among men nationwide, with an alarming 30 percent rise in new cases anticipated in 2021 and a 2.4 percent increase in deaths. More than 25 percent of the men who pass from cancer will be prostate cancer patients. “Men didn’t need another reason to avoid the doctor in 2020, but unfortunately, COVID-19 gave them one. The lack of access to screening has real and devastating consequences,” Jamie Bearse, ZERO CEO,
and President. “The 30 percent increase in new cases is likely, in part, due to men deferring from annual checkups because of the pandemic. We expect 2022 figures will be even higher and more troubling.” According to research from the University of Washington School of Medicine, black men are urged to start testing at the age of 45 (35 based on American Cancer Society research). The university notes that black men in the U.S. were about 60 to 80 percent more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from prostate cancer compared to other men of other races in the U.S. “The study provides us evidence to support a personalized screening recommendation for black men, who are more likely to be diagnosed at younger ages and with more aggressive disease,” Dr. Yaw Nyame, a urologic oncologist at the University of Washington School of Medicine, said. “We found that screening at age 45 and testing every year until age 70 decreased the number of deaths from prostate cancer compared to the current screening practices without increasing the number of over-detected prostate cancer cases.” GAME CHANGERS MAGAZINE | 45
