Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer. About 1 man in 36 will die of prostate cancer.
About 1 man in 7 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.
Why are black men negatively affected by prostate cancer more than white men?
September 24, 2013
By Durado Brooks, MD, MPH
When the US Preventive Services Taskforce (USPSTF) made their startling recommendation against screening for prostate cancer last year there was a widespread outcry from prostate cancer doctors and patients. Resistance was especially strong among black prostate cancer survivors and the doctors who care for them, arguing that the scientific studies that led to the USPSTF recommendation did not include many black men. Is this simply another case of "political correctness?" Isn't prostate cancer colorblind? Doesn't cancer behave the same in all men, regardless of race?
In reality there are a number of differences in how prostate cancer impacts black men compared to men of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Black men are 60% more likely than white men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, and are more than twice as likely to die from the disease. Black men are also diagnosed at a younger age (about 3 years younger on average) and are more likely to have "high grade" tumors - the kind of tumors that grow rapidly, spread to other parts of the body, and often cause death. Research has given us some insights on why these differences exist and what they mean for black men who face decisions about prostate cancer screening and treatment....READ MORE.
Dr. Brooks is director of prostate and colorectal cancers for the American Cancer Society.
Military Service
Vietnam Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange
About 3 million people served in the US military in Vietnam during the course of the war, about 1.5 million of whom served during the period of heaviest herbicide spraying from 1967 to 1969.
In studies comparing Vietnam veterans with veterans who had served at the same time elsewhere, blood TCDD (dioxin) levels were found to be higher among those who had served in Vietnam, although these levels went down slowly over time.
Exposure to Agent Orange varied a great deal. Most of the large-scale spraying in Operation Ranch Hand was done with airplanes and helicopters. However, some herbicides were sprayed from boats or trucks, and some were applied by soldiers with backpack sprayers. Those who loaded airplanes and helicopters might have been exposed the most. Members of the Army Chemical Corps, who stored and mixed herbicides and defoliated the perimeters of military bases, probably also had some of the heaviest exposures. Others with potentially heavy exposures included members of Special Forces units who defoliated remote campsites, and members of Navy river units who cleared base perimeters...READ MORE
Men With A Family History
Risk
Like many other cancers, prostate cancer develops in two phases. During the first phase, the cells are exposed to factors such as viruses or toxins that can trigger abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth. During the second phase, other factors like diet, hormones and environmental influences can cause accelerated growth of prostate cancer cells. The greatest risk factors for developing prostate cancer are increasing age, family history, ethnicity and diet.
Age
Most men with prostate cancer are over 65 although there are cases of prostate cancer of men aged in their 20s and 30s and some have found to be very aggressive. ZERO along with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends men should start discussing prostate cancer risk and testing options with their doctor in their 40s, earlier if they have additional risk factors.
All men are at risk of developing prostate cancer but that risk increases significantly as men grow older. Only about 1 in 10,000 men under the age of 40 will be diagnosed. However that rate increases to 1 in 38 for men ages 40 to 49 and 1 in 14 for men ages 60 to 69. More than 65 percent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65 and 97 percent in men 50 years of age and older.
Family History
Some men have a genetic predisposition to prostate cancer. A man with at least one close relative who has had the disease has twice the risk of having prostate cancer compared to the general population. Current research is underway to identify certain genes and gene mutations that would put a man at higher risk for developing prostate cancer.