FREE Prostate Cancer Screening
Saturday, October 29th 2011 at the American Building, 3rd Floor 8901 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20889
Call 301.319.2900 for more information and please share with all the men in your life that you care about.
Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MP
All men should be concerned about prostate cancer, particularly as they age. Regular screening starting at age 50 is recommended for men who are at an average risk of developing prostate cancer. But if you have one or more risk factors and are at an increased risk of developing prostate cancer, early screening is especially important.
Men of African-American descent are at a significantly higher risk of developing prostate cancer than white men. Among black men, 19 percent — nearly one in five — will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and five percent of those will die from this disease. In fact, prostate cancer is the fourth most common reason overall for death in African-American men.
Prostate Cancer in African-American Men: How Much Greater Is the Risk?
Researchers aren’t exactly sure of the reasons why black men are at an increased risk of developing and dying from prostate cancer. "Unfortunately, right now we really don’t know why African-American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer. We know that they are more likely to die from prostate cancer in part because of delayed diagnosis and in part because of limits in access to treatment," says Durado Brooks, MD, director of prostate and colorectal cancer at the American Cancer Society. A number of studies are under way in an attempt to better understand the causes.
And while African-American men are already at an increased risk for prostate cancer, their risk increases dramatically if there is a family history of prostate cancer. African-American men with an immediate family member who had prostate cancer have a one in three chance of developing the disease. Their risk rises to 83 percent with two immediate family members having the disease, and skyrockets to 97 percent if they have three immediate family members who developed prostate cancer.
Early Prostate Cancer Screening: Why It’s So Important
Early prostate cancer screening is important because by the time that symptoms appear, the cancer is likely in an advanced stage. The earlier the prostate cancer is caught — before symptoms appear — the better the chances for recovery.
Prostate cancer is highly treatable when caught early. "Almost 100 percent of men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer in its earliest stage will be alive five years later. Men need to understand that there is something that can be done about this disease," notes Dr. Brooks.