The Prostate Risk
Q: Is it true that prostate cancer in men is as serious a health threat as breast cancer in women?
A: Absolutely. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men in America. A new survey released by the Partnership for Prostate Health says that 198,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and that 31,500 of them will die from the disease. If the disease is found before it spreads outside the prostate, the survival rate is very good. Despite these chilling statistics, the report also found that only one in five undiagnosed men have talked about the threat of prostate cancer with their doctor this year.
The survey indicates that although most men understand the danger of prostate cancer—many of them think it will happen to someone else, not them. Two out of three men surveyed knew that prostate cancer was one of the top killers. But most men said their personal chance of getting prostate cancer was remote. Nearly 60% of those surveyed said it was "not very likely" that they would get the disease. Many men think of prostate cancer as something that strikes "older men," and do not realize the disease can affect men in their younger, prime-working years.
One-in-five men claimed they were "too young" to worry about prostate disease.
The survey also showed that African-American men are aware that they are more susceptible to the disease than Caucasian men. The study indicated that more African- American men talked to their doctors about it, and knew it was a serious health risk. By contrast, Hispanic men seemed to be the least likely to pay attention to prostate disease. Hispanic men did not discuss the issue with their doctor, and only 49% of those surveyed had been tested for the disease, compared to two-thirds of Caucasians and African- Americans.
Men of all backgrounds were uninformed about the screening and treatment choices available to them. 96% of those polled incorrectly said there were "early warning signs" of prostate cancer. The fact is, waiting until troubling symptoms occur puts men at serious risk. By the time detectable symptoms occur, like difficulty urinating or pain in the genital area, the cancer may be in a more advanced stage. Researchers suggest that fear of death or embarrassment over potential impotence or incontinence are the two factors keeping most men from asking about their prostate options. Men over 50 should have both a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a rectal exam annually. Your primary doctor can tell you more about the six major therapy options now available for men.