Each year more men are being diagnosed with prostate cancer, but fewer men are dying from the disease. Data from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries and the national Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that in 2002, incidence rates of prostate cancer will increase slightly, while death rates from the disease will decrease. Skip Lockwood, CEO of Zero – - The Project to End Prostate Cancer said “This year alone, more than 241,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 28,000 will die from the disease.” Because of early detection efforts, more than 90% of prostate cancers are discovered in the local or regional stages. When prostate cancer is detected in the earlier stages, the survival rate approaches 100%. For reasons still unclear, prostate cancer incidence rates are significantly higher in African Americans than in Caucasians, and death rates in African Americans remain more than twice as high as those in Caucasians. Other risk factors for prostate cancer include age and family history of the disease.
CPC encourages men to consult with their physicians and make an appointment to have their PSA (prostate specific antigen)checked along with a DRE (digital rectal exam), to maintain a healthy prostate.
