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Prostate Cancer
After lung cancer, cancer of the prostate is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men in the United States. It is estimated that up to 350,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually. Adenocarcinoma of the prostate is the clinical term for cancer that begins as a tumor on the outside of the prostate gland. As it grows, it may spread to the inner part of the prostate. If identified early enough in its development and treated before the malignancy spreads too far into the gland or out into surrounding tissues, lymph nodes or bones, it can be treated successfully with a variety of medical procedures. If not, the cancer cells will spread through the bloodstream, infecting other parts of the body, and the disease will claim the patient as one of its estimated 40,000 victims annually.
General Description & Incidence
Prostate cancer is often described as a disease of men over age 50. A man's chances of being diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime are about 1 in 10 - roughly the same as a woman's chances of having breast cancer. The number of reported new cases has risen dramatically in recent years - 350,000 in 1996, compared to about 100,000 in 1990 - as a result of improved tests which can detect the disease early in its development, often long before symptoms appear.
The likelihood of developing prostate cancer in any given year increases with age, but rises dramatically after age 50. A recent study estimated one in nearly 59,000 men age 40 to 44 are likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, rising to one in about 2,600 from age 50 to 59, and one in 80 beyond age 80.
Apart from age, studies have identified several other discrete groups with statistically higher rates of prostate cancer.
African-Americans - Of all racial groups, African Americans have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in America; Caucasians have the lowest. No biological reason has been found to explain this. Interestingly, Japanese men and black males living in Africa have a low incidence of prostate cancer; rates for these groups increase sharply when they emigrate to the United States. Experts have postulated that this suggests an environmental connection, possibly related to American dietary habits, low exposure to ultraviolet light, exposure to heavy metals such as cadmium, infectious agents or smoking.
Family History. Men whose families have a history of prostate cancer are considered to be at high risk. Studies suggest a hereditary factor, but to date no specific responsible gene or genes have been identified.
Diet-research suggests high dietary fat as a prominent risk factor.