About Prostate Cancer
CLICK HERE to download this fact sheet (PDF)
What is prostate cancer?
There are several types of cells in the prostate, but nearly all prostate cancers begin in the gland cells. In most cases, prostate cancer grows slowly.
Who has prostate cancer in Arizona?
3,246 new cases of prostate cancer made up nearly 1 in 4 of all new cancer cases in men in 2008.1 African-Americans, Hispanics and Asian-Americans are more likely to develop prostate cancer than other racial/ethnic groups.
What are the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer?
- Difficulty starting urinating
- Weak, or interrupted, flow of urine
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Difficulty emptying the bladder
- Pain or burning during urination
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Pain in the back, hips or pelvis that doesn’t go away
- Painful ejaculation
What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?
- Age: The older a man is, the greater his risk
- Family history: A man with a father, brother, or son who has had prostate cancer is two to three times more likely to develop the disease himself
- Race/Ethnicity: Prostate cancer is more common in some racial and ethnic groups than in others
What can I do about it?
Starting at 50 years old, men should talk to a doctor about the pros and cons of a yearly blood test, called a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. Given current uncertainty about the benefit of PSA testing the principle public health approach is to support informed-decision making about screening. Testing may be the right choice, especially for men with high risk factors or symptoms. African-American men or men whose father or brother had prostate cancer before age 65, should talk with a doctor about a yearly PSA test beginning at 45 years old.
What is Arizona doing?
Arizona participates in programs funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help prevent or control prostate cancer, including:
- Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Control Program: azcancercontrol.gov This program, part of the ADHS Bureau of Tobacco and Chronic Disease, works to help lower the number of people in Arizona getting cancer. It also works to allow people who do get cancer to get better treatment and have a better quality of life. The Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Control Program partners with organizations to coordinate and leverage comprehensive cancer control efforts made at federal, state and local levels.
AZ Fast Facts
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer among men in Arizona. [1]
The five-year relative survival rate for prostate cancer diagnosed at an early stage is 100%. [2]
In 2010, 41% of men aged 40 years and over in Arizona had not had a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test, the test to detect prostate cancer. [3]
CLICK HERE to download this fact sheet (PDF)