Cancer Therapy AdvisorSuccesses and Setbacks in Prostate Cancer Care

Prostate Cancer: A Rising Incidence and the Quest for Equitable Care

The landscape of prostate cancer care has seen both significant strides and challenges. Although survival rates have improved, the incidence of the disease is on the rise, particularly for advanced cases. This underscores the need for continued vigilance in screening and addressing disparities in care.

Key Points:

• The 5-year relative survival rate for prostate cancer from 2012-2018 was 97%, second only to thyroid cancer.
• The incidence of prostate cancer rose by 3% a year from 2014 through 2019, with an additional 99,000 cases, half of which represent advanced disease.
• The US Preventive Services Task Force modified its stance in 2018 to recommend prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening based on shared decision-making for men ages 55 to 69.
• The overall 5-year survival rate for prostate cancer drops to 32% for men with metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis.
• The American Cancer Society launched the IMPACT program to reduce prostate cancer mortality across all demographics and address disparities in care.
• The incidence of prostate cancer in Black men is 1 in 6, vs 1 in 8 for White men, and the prostate cancer mortality rate is 2 to 4 times higher in Black men than in any other racial or ethnic group.
• After the implementation of PSA tests, the number of prostate cancer diagnoses increased, jumping to 126 in 2021.

HCN Medical Memo
The American Cancer Society recommends that men at high risk of prostate cancer should discuss PSA screening with a clinician starting at age 45. This includes African American men and anyone with a father or brother diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65. The discussion should begin at age 40 for men with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age.

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