How Common Is Prostate Cancer at Different Ages?

If you're curious about prostate cancer rates, you may be wondering if prostate cancer risk increases with age. The answer is yes. Before the age of 40, it is uncommon, but prevalence increases rapidly in men over age 40 -- and continues to rise thereafter.

How Do We Know the True Prevalence of Prostate Cancer?

The only way to definitively diagnose prostate cancer is by taking some of the prostate tissue and looking at it under a microscope to determine if any cancerous cells are present.
This is mostly done with prostate biopsy when there is some reason to be concerned that prostate cancer may be present (such as an elevated PSA level, an abnormal digital rectal exam, or urinary symptoms).

In order to determine how common prostate cancer truly is, however, biopsies would have to be done on lots and lots of men -- regardless of whether they needed it or not. This plan obviously has some serious drawbacks and will likely never be done.
Instead, prostate tissue can be analyzed after death during an autopsy. It is through autopsy studies that scientists have been able to determine the actual prevalence of prostate cancer among men of various ages.

Prostate Cancer Rates by Age

One project that analyzed autopsy studies from around the world came to the following conclusion regarding the actual rate of prostate cancer in men of different ages:

• 20 to 30 years, 2% to 8%
• 31 to 40 years: 9% to 31%
• 41 to 50 years: 3% to 43%
• 51 to 60 years: 5% to 46%
• 61 to 70 years: 14% to 70%
• 71 to 80 years: 31% to 83%
• 81 to 90 years: 40% to 73%

Obviously, some of these age ranges show a large degree of variability in the prevalence of cancer. This variability is thought to be due to differences in the diagnostic techniques used by the various pathologists and to geographic differences. (Men in some parts of the world have much higher rates of prostate cancer than others.)

Overall, though, this gives a pretty good picture of just how common prostate cancer is and how dramatically its prevalence increases with age.

_Sources:

Delongchamps NB, Singh A, Haas GP. The role of prevalence in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Cancer Control. 2006 Jul;13(3):158-68.
Hankey BF, Feuer EJ, Clegg LX, et al. Cancer surveillance series: interpreting trends in prostate cancer--part I: Evidence of the effects of screening in recent prostate cancer incidence, mortality, and survival rates. J Natl Cancer Inst 1999 Jun 16;91(12):1017-24.

Do Metabolic Factors Increase Mortality in Prostate Cancer?

Hello. I am Dr. Gerald Chodak for Medscape. Today's topic is the role of metabolic syndrome in men with prostate cancer. Haggstrom and coworkers ^[1] published in Cancer a large cohort series on nearly 300,000 men who were followed over a course of about 12 years.

What they attempted to determine was whether having symptoms of metabolic syndrome was associated with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. The authors found no such association. However, they did find that men who had metabolic syndrome were more likely to be dying from prostate cancer, the risk for which was associated with elevated body mass index, elevated blood pressure, or abnormal glucose or triglyceride blood levels.

The significance of this is the following. We know that many men who progress from prostate cancer are likely to develop metabolic syndrome as a consequence of androgen deprivation. Although we are getting better at treating men with progressive metastatic prostate cancer, the fact is that we may be falling far short of addressing potentially resolvable problems that contribute to their overall death.
I don't think that urologists are primed for evaluating patients for metabolic syndrome, monitoring it, or ensuring that patients are getting the care that they need to make sure that the syndrome is being addressed. What does that mean going forward? First, we need to alert our patients to these side effects and symptoms, encouraging them to try to moderate their weight, get exercise, monitor their glucose levels, get their blood pressure managed properly, and address triglyceride levels that may be abnormal.

That may be outside the realm of the urologist. However, it does require careful attention, and urologists need to do a better job of ensuring that their patients with progressive prostate cancer are receiving care in the area of addressing metabolic syndrome. That means that not only is better patient education needed, but physicians need to be tuned in to the seriousness of these side effects. As urologists, we tend to think more about the cancer with blinders on and don't address the peripheral association that happens as a result of the treatments that we administer.

But it is becoming clearer all the time that metabolic syndrome is serious. It contributes to the mortality of men with prostate cancer and, more than likely, there is a great opportunity for improving the management of our patients to address some of these problems. Hopefully you will find this information useful. I look forward to your comments. Thank you.

Do Metabolic Factors Increase Mortality in Prostate Cancer?

Hello. I am Dr. Gerald Chodak for Medscape. Today's topic is the role of metabolic syndrome in men with prostate cancer. Haggstrom and coworkers ^[1] published in Cancer a large cohort series on nearly 300,000 men who were followed over a course of about 12 years.

What they attempted to determine was whether having symptoms of metabolic syndrome was associated with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. The authors found no such association. However, they did find that men who had metabolic syndrome were more likely to be dying from prostate cancer, the risk for which was associated with elevated body mass index, elevated blood pressure, or abnormal glucose or triglyceride blood levels.

The significance of this is the following. We know that many men who progress from prostate cancer are likely to develop metabolic syndrome as a consequence of androgen deprivation. Although we are getting better at treating men with progressive metastatic prostate cancer, the fact is that we may be falling far short of addressing potentially resolvable problems that contribute to their overall death.
I don't think that urologists are primed for evaluating patients for metabolic syndrome, monitoring it, or ensuring that patients are getting the care that they need to make sure that the syndrome is being addressed. What does that mean going forward? First, we need to alert our patients to these side effects and symptoms, encouraging them to try to moderate their weight, get exercise, monitor their glucose levels, get their blood pressure managed properly, and address triglyceride levels that may be abnormal.

That may be outside the realm of the urologist. However, it does require careful attention, and urologists need to do a better job of ensuring that their patients with progressive prostate cancer are receiving care in the area of addressing metabolic syndrome. That means that not only is better patient education needed, but physicians need to be tuned in to the seriousness of these side effects. As urologists, we tend to think more about the cancer with blinders on and don't address the peripheral association that happens as a result of the treatments that we administer.

But it is becoming clearer all the time that metabolic syndrome is serious. It contributes to the mortality of men with prostate cancer and, more than likely, there is a great opportunity for improving the management of our patients to address some of these problems. Hopefully you will find this information useful. I look forward to your comments. Thank you.

Appropriate Prostate Cancer Treatment in Men over 80

I read recently what one doctor said recently that prostate cancer in men over 80 years old should not be a serious issue like in men under 40 years old. This makes sense and given what we know about prostate cancer being a slow-growing malignancy. If you have read about prostate cancer at all, you must be aware that there are certain stages, or levels of seriousness, that are apparent as the disease develops.

People who panic about prostate cancer might be inclined toward aggressive treatment for a man over 80. Aggressive treatment has side effects that may dramatically alter the quality of life of that special senior citizen. Unlike a man under 40, who is much more able to tolerate an aggressive treatment regimen if deemed appropriate.

Some make the mistake and assumed that someone over 80 that has prostate cancer only needs to have the disease managed as the patient probably doesn't have that many more years, anyway. Although I'm certain some medical doctors think this way, many are more interested in providing a higher quality of life to the elderly.

In the case of a cancerous tumor, the treatment will be based on the desires of the patient, treatment options in the stage at which the cancer has progressed. These are important considerations when determining the appropriate level of treatment, no matter if the man is under 40 are well over 80.
Many men who contract prostate cancer early in life typically have a hereditary factors involved. This means that there may have been men in his close family like his father, brothers or uncles who have had prostate carcinoma. This may suggest to many medical professionals, that the patient needs continued monitoring and potentially aggressive treatment as he has apparently predisposed to this type of malignancy.

A men who has reached the age of 80, has survived what life has thrown his way both medically and physically. A level of frailty becomes a consideration in determining the appropriate level of treatment that should be considered.

Several stages of prostate cancer, offer a treatment option known as" watchful waiting." As we know, this type of carcinoma is slow-growing, an appropriate level of care may be simply keeping an eye on the cancerous growth to minimize the risk of it metastasizing were spreading to other parts of the body.

So the option of carefully watching may provide the best option for senior men. It allows them to maintain their current quality of life while also protecting their future existence from malignant cancer running through their body. No matter what your age, it's important to talk to your doctor about treatment options if diagnosed with prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer and African American Black Men

If you are an African American black man, it's time to get rid of the last vestige of self denial and disassociating yourself from prostate cancer. There's now every clear evidence and proof that prostate type of cancer affects MORE African American black men than any other people. This article provides more reasons why you should start taking the condition more seriously, because nothing says it won't happen to you or your loved ones.

While this doesn't mean that others don't get the condition, it's mostly prevalent among the African Black American, with Asians having the lowest number of victims. This shows that if you are an African American, you should be concerned about the condition.

It's time to face the facts and start getting involved in protecting yourself from the condition instead of living in self delusion. Such self delusion reminds me of the popular behavior of burying your head in the sand like the Ostrich and pretending that the condition can never happen to you.
Thankfully, if the cancer is detected very early there's every chance of surviving it. That's why it's always recommended that you go for constant examinations (at least every six months, if you are over 40 or 50 years old).

What you are doing if you go for constant medical tests is being on the watch-out for the condition so that you can have it treated effectively if and when it crops up. I think this is a much better plan that can save your life, as an African, instead of pretending that it can't happen to you.

Breast Cancer in Men Isn't Possible is It? - Wise Guys Check Breasts

Breast cancer in men does happen. Yes. Male breast cancer exists.

Like women, men have breast tissue and the types of breast cancer in men, are similar to women. Not all men understand that male breast cancer is not only a womens health issue, but one that both sexes must be aware of. Men must know basic information and risk factors about male breast cancer.
Males who understand the signs of breast cancer, are in the minority. Most men do not know about male breast cancer, and do not realise that it is possible for them to have a breast lump. Signs of breast cancer are sometimes missed and found later down the track, therefore it can reduce options available.

It is difficult for a man to get his head around, to process and accept he has breast cancer. In a man? Really, no, it cant be, isn't it a woman's disease? Men have been known to think that women are the unlucky ones who find a breast lump, and that men don't experience male breast cancer. Yes they can. Sorry men, it is perceived as a women's disease, but it is not only us who must do self breast exams (BSE) and visual observations. Welcome to the club.

Guys, here are some signs of breast cancer you need to know about.

• Breast lump
• Indentations
• Puckering
• Nipple discharge
• Rash
• Itching
• Lesion or sore
• Redness
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Changes in colour of nipple or chest

Blokes, here are breast cancer risk factors.

• Age. More common in men as they age.
• Family members. Know your family history?
• A breast cancer gene may increase your risk.
• Exposure to radiation to your chest when younger.
• Klinefelters syndrome. This is when men have an extra x chromosome, so they do not make as much testosterone.
• Estrogen. Have prostate cancer hormone therapy? This can raise your risk, so you need to be aware and do regular breast examinations.
• Obesity. You have more fat cells that are converting androgens into estrogen, therefore elevating levels and increasing your risk.
• Alcohol. Might be an idea to look at the amount you are drinking and possibly reduce.

Men, don't let breast lumps be a risk. Depending on where abouts in the world you live, men get called all sorts of various names. Blokes, Guys, Men, Jokers, Boys, and if you are lucky, Dear. Whatever you like to be called, please understand that you may be at risk of having male breast cancer and that whilst it is not common, it is possible to have, regardless of where you live.
Be active in your breast self exam and encourage the women in your life, to do the same. Fear is often a reason why breast examination is not done, so if you have a partner, why not remind and support each other to do breast self exam each month, and hopefully breast cancer in men and women can be caught earlier.

If you were to discover a breast lump, please seek medical attention. This is not something that you should delay doing. Sometimes it can be difficult to get a man to visit a doctor, however this is one of those times that you do need to pick up the phone and make an appointment as soon as possible. Early detection is key!

Do Men With Prostate Cancer Who Undergo Surgery Need Radiation Therapy, Too?

There are a number of treatment options for men with prostate cancer. These include a surgical procedure, known as radical prostatectomy, as well as radiation therapy (hereafter referred to as RT). Are there any situations wherein a man who undergoes a radical prostatectomy will need RT afterwards?

The answer is yes, in special circumstances. Such RT is known as salvage radiotherapy, and is advisable for men whose PSA levels rise after surgery, as well as for those whose PSA levels never fully decline. The reason is that this additional treatment can increase the odds of survival for such men.

A recent study reviewed the data of 635 men with rising PSA levels after radical prostatectomy. In the study, 160 of the men received salvage RT, 78 received salvage RT and hormonal therapy (which lowers the level of prostate cancer stimulating male hormones in the blood stream), and 397 received no treatment.

Over the ensuing ten years, of the men who received salvage RT alone or salvage RT plus hormonal therapy, the rate of death from prostate cancer was nearly 60% less than that of the men who were not treated.

Salvage RT is noted to be most beneficial for men with rising PSA levels when it is administered promptly after the problem is identified. In contrast, if men with climbing PSA levels defer RT more than two years after the initial PSA spike, no benefit is noted.

Additional analysis revealed that the beneficial effect of salvage RT was confined to those men whose PSA levels doubled in less than six months, suggesting that a rapid PSA doubling time is indicative of more aggressive disease.

Therefore, the good news is that for men whose PSA levels climb after radical prostatectomy, RT can be life saving