NC Prostate Cancer Statistics

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) 2007 Facts & Figures, this year:

• 218,890 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer
• 33,370 men will die of prostate cancer

According to the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics 2007 projections, this year:

• 6,420 North Carolina (NC) men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year
• 835 NC men will die of prostate cancer

• Prostate cancer can be slow growing or aggressive and potentially fatal.
• Early detection
  • allows the patient more time to evaluate treatment options;
  • improves the ability of his MD to provide effective treatment and management;
  • gives the patient his best odds of effective recovery;
  • and is crucial to stopping some potentially lethal cancers.
• The most common symptom of prostate cancer is NO SYMPTOM AT ALL. So annual prostate screenings are very important both for general prostate health and to promote the odds of early detection.
• Because prostate cancer can vary broadly in its aggressiveness, it important to understand how aggressive cancer is or is not prior to treatment.
• According MD Anderson Cancer Center is nearly 100% effectively treatable when found early. Once physically uncomfortable symptoms manifest, the 5 year survival rate for prostate cancer drops to about 30%.