Exploring the Fatalities of Prostate Cancer

There’s good news for men diagnosed with prostate cancer — it has one of the highest survival rates of all cancer types. Thanks to early detection and the cutting-edge treatment options available at places like Regional Cancer Care Associates, most men diagnosed with prostate cancer are able to successfully beat this disease. Even so, the American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that about 29,430 people will die from prostate cancer in 2018. To get a better understanding of prostate cancer survival rates, let’s take a closer look.

Key Statistics about Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer has a very high incidence rate in men. It’s second only to skin cancer. According to the ACS, there will be 164,690 new cases of prostate cancer in 2018 alone. Because it’s so common, it’s also the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men after lung cancer. Despite these statistics, the outlook remains good, as demonstrated by the prostate cancer survival rates below.

• 5-year survival rate: 99%
• 10-year survival rate: 98%
• 15-year survival rate: 96%

Prostate cancer tends to affect older African-American men the most. The majority of all cases occur in men above the age of 40, with the average age of diagnosis being 65 years old. Other factors, like family history and inherited gene changes, can increase an individual’s risk of developing prostate cancer.

Why the Prostate Cancer Survival Rate Is So High

Fortunately, most cases are diagnosed early. Some of the first symptoms of prostate cancer involve urinary and sexual problems, which cause some men to seek treatment relatively soon after onset. Additionally, prostate cancer tends to grow slowly and spread slowly, giving doctors more time to catch it and treat it before the disease advances.

However, if the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it becomes more difficult to treat. Similarly, not all cases respond to treatment the same. For advanced prostate cancer cases, the five-year survival rate decreases significantly to about 29%. Prostate cancer can also relapse, or come back, even after it’s been treated once. Still, there are about 2.9 million men living in the United States today who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point.

RCCA Is Here for You

Prostate cancer is a serious life-threatening disease. If you’ve been diagnosed, the cancer specialists at Regional Cancer Care Associates will do everything they can to give you the care you deserve.