Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, except for skin cancer. This year, an estimated 180,890 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. For unknown reasons, the risk of prostate cancer is 70% higher in blacks than in non-Hispanic whites. Most prostate cancers (92%) are found when the disease is confined to the prostate and nearby organs. This is referred to as the local or regional stage.
The 5-year survival rate tells you what percent of men live at least 5 years after the cancer is found. Percent means how many out of 100. The 5-year survival rate for most men with prostate cancer is 99%. Ninety-eight percent (98%) are alive after 10 years, and 95% live for at least 15 years. For men diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, the 5-year survival rate drops to 28%.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States. It is estimated that 26,120 deaths from this disease will occur this year. Although the number of deaths from prostate cancer continues to decline among all men, the death rate remains more than twice as high in black men than any other group. A man’s individual survival depends on the type of prostate cancer and the stage of the disease.