How Common is Prostate Cancer?

The American Cancer Society’s estimates for prostate cancer in the United States for 2024 are:

• About 299,010 new cases of prostate cancer

• About 35,250 deaths from prostate cancer

From 2007 to 2014, the number of prostate cancer diagnoses dropped significantly, which was linked to a decrease in screenings due to updated screening guidelines. However, since 2014, the overall incidence rate has risen by 3% annually, with advanced-stage prostate cancer increasing by approximately 5% per year.

Risk of Getting Prostate Cancer

About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives, though individual risk can vary based on factors such as age, race/ethnicity, and other variables.

Prostate cancer is more common in older men, with about 60% of cases occurring in those aged 65 or older, and it is uncommon in men under 40. The average age at diagnosis is around 67.

Additionally, African American men and Caribbean men of African descent face a higher risk of developing prostate cancer compared to men of other racial and ethnic groups.

Deaths from Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among American men, following only lung cancer. Approximately 1 in 44 men will die from prostate cancer.

While prostate cancer can be serious, most men diagnosed with it do not succumb to the disease. In fact, over 3.3 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still living today.

The prostate cancer death rate decreased by about 50% from 1993 to 2013, largely due to earlier detection and improvements in treatment. Recently, this death rate has leveled off, which may be attributed to an increase in cancers being diagnosed at more advanced stages.