Prostate Cancer Survival Rates, 10 Statistics You May Not Know

Before we begin quoting numbers and statistics we will tell you something you may, or not know already. We will briefly explain the how the survival rates are calculated. The survival rate is a 5 year study that refers to the patients who survive 5 years, or more, after the initial diagnosis. This is helps in determining the prognosis, or outlook of patients. Since the diagnosis and treatment started 5 years prior, to any diagnoses presented today, new cases would be expected to have a better prognosis, due to developments in treatment.

It develops in the male gland and can spread to other parts of the body particularly the lymph nodes and bones. It may cause difficulty in urination, pain, or erectile dysfunction along with any number of other symptoms that can occur later in the disease. Traditional treatments have been surgery, radiation, and proton.

1) Second only to lung cancer in cancer related death.
2) Until recently numbers in deaths due to this were rising. In 1932 17 in every 100,000 men died from this, in 1991 the figure had rose to 25 in 100,000. Reasons for these rises are speculative at best.
3) The second most common type of cancer in men, the first being skin cancer.
4) 1 in 35 will die from this cancer. It claims 10% of all cancer related deaths for men.
5) According to the American Cancer Society, almost 100% of patients survive 5 years, (99.9% white and 97.6% black men,) that rate is 91% at 10 years and 76% at 15 years. Keep in mind the above mentioned factor when considering survival rates.
6) The average age for related deaths from '98 to '02 was 80, with almost no deaths reported under the age of 44.
7) Stage of diagnosis is important. Survival rate is almost 100% for local or regional diagnosis, with that rate dropping to 33.3% for distant or metasized cancers.
8) There is a lifetime risk of over 17% for every male born today of receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis.
9) There are seldom any symptoms in the early stages. Diagnosis usually begins due to an elevated PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) count in a routine blood test.
10) Primary reasons for developing this type of cancer are still unclear. Although age, genetics, and diet are believed to be contributing factors.

The facts presented here are the same facts presented by the American Cancer Society, and eMedtv, and both references seem to point to the same conclusions. Early detection of this potentially deadly condition is imperative to increase the chances for survival. Meanwhile, ongoing research makes advances very day.

Jamie Vanderhorst has been covering Prostate Cancer for the last 10 years, working as a professional writer. One of Jamie's areas of knowledge is on Prostate Cancer survival rates.

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