Prostate cancer, the second most prevalent cancer in the United States, has garnered renewed attention following the passing of American football player and actor OJ Simpson. Simpson, who battled prostate cancer, brought awareness to the disease before his recent demise.
Prostate cancer accounts for 15% of new cancer cases annually in the US, making it the most common cancer among men. It affects approximately one in eight men during their lifetime, with projections suggesting a doubling of diagnoses by 2040, according to a Lancet study. The study predicts an increase in annual cases from 1.4 million in 2020 to 2.9 million in 2040, with a corresponding rise in deaths by 85%, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
African-American and Black men are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer, being 70% more likely to be diagnosed and nearly twice as likely to die from the disease compared to other men.
Prostate cancer develops in the prostate gland, a small organ located between the bladder and rectum in men. While age is the primary risk factor, affecting 80% of men over 80, it can occur in individuals with no family history. Symptoms may include increased urge to urinate, difficulty starting urination, feeling of incomplete bladder emptying, and blood in urine or semen.
Early detection is crucial, and regular Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) testing is recommended to measure blood levels of a cancer biomarker. In India, prostate cancer accounts for 3% of all cancers, with an estimated 33,000 to 42,000 new cases annually. However, low awareness and limited systematic PSA testing contribute to underreporting of the disease's prevalence and severity.
