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Questions This Article Answers:
- What are the survival rates for prostate cancer?
- Which men are at higher risk of prostate cancer?
- What factors affect my prognosis with prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among American men, expected to kill 26,120 in 2016. About 2.8 million men live with the disease now, with 180,890 new cases expected to be diagnosed in 2016.
However, the good news is survival rates have increased dramatically in the past decade, thanks to improvements in detection and treatment. The relative five-year and 10-year survival rates for prostate cancer patients is close to 100%. Also leading to optimism: new advances in the study of the disease, which are leading to more ways to prevent it, find it, and treat it.
Big Jump in Survival Rates
Forty years ago, the five-year survival rate for prostate cancer was 68%. By the late 1980s, this had inched up to 83%. But the latest figures available, from 2005 to 2011, show a rate of 99% at both five- and 10-year marks, and of 94% after 15 years.
One reason lies in early detection. The most recent data (through 2012) show about 80% of prostate cancers are found when they are “localized,” meaning they haven’t spread beyond the prostate. Another 12% are detected when the cancer has spread “regionally,” such as to nearby lymph nodes. Both of these stages of prostate cancer, when treated, have near-100% five-year survival rates.
About 4% of prostate cancer is found at an advanced stage, with tumors spreading throughout the body. At this point, the five-year rate drops significantly, to 28%.
However, these survival statistics are based on patients who were treated at least five years ago, without benefit of the latest advances in treatment. We won’t know for several years what impact new treatments are having on length of life after diagnosis.
African American Men at Higher Risk
African American men have a higher rate of prostate cancer; they are 1.6 times more likely to be diagnosed than men of other racial and ethnic groups. Also, black men are 2.4 times more likely to die from the disease. Their cancers are typically larger and at a more advanced stage at diagnosis. Still, their five-year survival rate is 98%, just slightly lower than the average.
Researchers aren’t sure whether this is due to genetic factors, lack of access to screening and treatment, or a combination of these and other causes. Regardless of the reason, if you are African American, you should consult your doctor about starting screenings for prostate cancer at age 40 to 45, which is about 10 years earlier than routine screenings begin for people with average risk. This way you improve your chances of catching your cancer early.
Factors Affecting Your Prognosis
Researchers point to several factors that have an impact on your prognosis.
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The stage of your cancer when it is discovered: Doctors look at how much of the prostate is affected by the cancer and whether it has spread outside the prostate to nearby or distant organs.
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Your age: Overall, the lifetime risk of having prostate cancer is 1 in 7; and prostate cancer in men younger than 40 is rare. Older men with prostate cancer are more likely to have other health conditions, which can affect how their bodies fight cancer and handle treatment.
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Whether the cancer recurs: About one-third of men who have had their prostates removed will see evidence of recurrence, such as rising PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels in their blood. But not all recurring cancers are aggressive. There are both high-risk and low-risk recurrences, indicated by factors such as how quickly the PSA level rises after surgery.
If you have any questions or concerns about your prognosis, it’s always best to discuss these with your healthcare provider. Each person’s illness is individual and subject to many factors. These survival and prognosis rates reflect the most recent research available, but they are general and don’t necessarily tell your story.