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MOST COMMON MALE CANCER
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.”
The American Cancer Society found several risk factors when it comes to a man’s risk of getting prostate cancer:
Age: Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 40, but the chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50.
Race/Ethnicity: Prostate cancer develops in black men and Caribbean men of African ancestry than men of other races. And when it does develop in these men, they tend to be younger.
Geography: Prostate cancer is most common in North America, Northwestern Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean islands. It is less common in Asia, Africa, Central America, and South America.
Family History: Many men are catching it without a prior family history of the disease. At the same time, it should be noted that a man has relatives close in lineages, such as a father, brother, and uncle. At that point, those men need to start early for screening and testing.
Other factors that are of concern but the American Cancer Society says there is research that indicates but more studying needs to be done:
Diet: Men who consume heavy dairy products have a slightly higher risk of getting prostate cancer.
Obesity: Obese men tend to have a higher risk of developing faster-growing and aggressive forms of prostate cancer.
Chemical Exposure: Men who work around heavy chemicals such as in the military or fire department have an elevated risk of contracting the disease, but ACS states there are not enough data to fully raise an alarm
Vasectomy: There is great debate over such, and while some men who had the operation were found to have such, it was about the same in men who didn’t have the procedure, but scientists are divided on this being a risk factor. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a simple blood test. Early detection saves lives, but unfortunately, decades of mixed messaging about the PSA test have left both doctors and men confused about the importance of testing. As a result, fewer men are taking the initiative regarding their prostate health, directly contributing to more deaths from prostate cancer year over year.
“These numbers are very concerning and do require a careful look. Despite many new treatments and diagnostics for prostate cancer that are improving the lives of men with the disease, we continue to face a potential rising incidence,” Dr. Charles Ryan, a member of ZERO’s Medical Advisory Board and an oncologist and professor at the University of Minnesota said. “This may be due to population growth, the aging population, and potentially due to decreases in screening over the past decade. Continued research on these questions of biology, policy, and society is critical now and moving forward.”
ZERO is combating the rising statistics by making prostate cancer screenings (including PSA tests) affordable and accessible. The “ZERO Cost to Prostate Cancer Screening” initiative is a nationwide effort to pass legislation in each state that makes prostate cancer screenings akin to other cancer screenings that are devoid of cost (ovarian, breast, etc.) As a result of this initiative, Maryland and New York became the first two states to pass critical legislation to remove prostate cancer screening cost-sharing for men. Additionally, ZERO works to educate and provide support resources among high-risk communities like Veterans, who have a risk of prostate cancer that’s about double that of civilians.
