Prostate Cancer Screening
Published Jan. 18, 2024
By Hopkins Medtech
About Prostate Cancer in the US
Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. The American Cancer Society’s estimates about 288,300 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States for 2023, and about 34,700 deaths from prostate cancer.
About 1 man in 8 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. Prostate cancer is more likely to develop in older men and in non-Hispanic Black men. About 6 cases in 10 are diagnosed in men who are 65 or older, and it is rare in men under 40. The average age of men when they are first diagnosed is about 66.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer. About 1 man in 41 will die of prostate cancer.
Characteristics of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer originates in the prostate gland, a walnut-sized gland located below the bladder and in front of the rectum in males.
Early-stage prostate cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms. As the cancer progresses, symptoms might include difficulty urinating, weak or interrupted urine flow, frequent urination (especially at night), blood in the urine or semen, erectile dysfunction, and pain in the hips, back, or pelvis.
Common diagnostic procedures
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): Involves a doctor inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel for abnormalities in the prostate.
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: Measures PSA levels in the blood. Elevated PSA levels might indicate prostate issues, including cancer.
Biopsy: The definitive method for diagnosing prostate cancer involves taking small tissue samples from the prostate gland and examining them under a microscope for cancerous cells
