After years of steady declines, the rate of prostate cancer in the United States is on the rise.
“After declining for much of the late 2000s and early 2010s, prostate cancer incidence rates have increased for nearly a decade, with the diagnosis of distant-stage disease, or spreading increasing in men of every age, including by nearly 3% annually in those younger than 55 years,” according to the latest statistics from the American Cancer Society.
The statistics also showed that mortality rates for Black men continue to be twice those of men in any other racial or ethnic group.
What Do Rising Prostate Cancer Rates Mean for You?
The study points to the need for more of an effort to optimize chances for early detection – especially for men in high-risk groups — while balancing that with too much unnecessary testing in other men.
But that’s easier said than done, especially because of waffling in screening guidelines.
Between 2008 and 2017 changes in screening guidelines sent mixed messages, and some men in certain age groups slipped through the cracks, which could be just one reason for the increase in cases of prostate cancer.
In 2008, the United States Preventative Task Force recommended against regular PSA screening for men older than 75, according to the American Cancer Society.
In 2012, the USPTF recommended against screening for ALL men.
In 2017, the USPTF reversed that decision recommending men aged 55 to 69 talk to their doctors about the risks and benefits of screening. That means that each man should take his own prostate cancer risks under consideration when deciding if a PSA test is right for him. And for men older than 70 PSA-based screening is not recommended.
Current PSA Recommendations
According to the American Cancer Society, men older than 50 who are at average risk for prostate cancer, should begin their conversations with their doctors about screening and PSA testing. For men at a higher risk, including Black men and those with a family history, the conversation should start at age 45.
And for men who’ve had a first-degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age, the conversations should start at age 40.
If you are concerned or if you notice any changes in bathroom habits, talk to your doctor.
The sooner prostate cancer is diagnosed, the better the treatment outcome is likely to be.
Prostate Cancer Treatment Miami
The prostate cancer experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami treat all prostate cancers — from early to metastatic prostate cancers. In fact, we often treat metastatic cancer with great success with fewer treatments than traditional radiation.
CyberKnife Miami offers state-of-the-art radiation treatment known as stereotactic body radiation therapy or SBRT. It’s an excellent treatment option for patients who can’t have surgery, don’t want surgery, have failed other treatments or have been told there’s nothing left to do.
Here are the distinct advantages of CyberKnife for metastatic prostate cancer.
- It’s noninvasive.
- There are no risks of infection or long periods of downtime like there is with surgery.
- The CyberKnife radiation beams, which target and destroy the tumor, are exceedingly precise. That means healthy tissue is unharmed.
- Treatments are outpatient and last 30 to 60 minutes.
- Side effects are minimal and may include fatigue and nausea
- Patients can be treated repeatedly with CyberKnife.
CyberKnife Treatment Miami
If you or someone you love is diagnosed with prostate cancer at any stage, contact the experts at CyberKnife Miami for a consultation. We treat patients from across South Florida, the United States and even around the world.
If you would like to find out more about prostate cancer treatment with CyberKnife, call us at 305-279-2900 or go to our prostate cancer website now for more information.