Facts: African-American Men and Prostate Cancer
- According to the National Cancer Institute, African-American men are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than white men.
- African-American men have a two-fold higher mortality rate than white men, according to a comprehensive study completed by the National Cancer Institute.
- Research is currently being conducted to determine the reasons for these higher risks of prostate cancer in African-American men.
Prostate Cancer: What Is It?
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that wraps around the urethra and produces a fluid that forms part of semen. The National Cancer Institute outlines three diseases of the prostate:
- Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate, causing painful or difficult urination and/or ejaculation.
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a type of prostate disease in which the prostate gland has become enlarged due to tumors within the prostate. These growths are not cancerous.
- Prostate cancer is similar to BPH, but the tumors that grow within the prostate are cancerous.
Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer in men, according to the National Cancer Institute.
- The American Cancer Society states that there will be 218,890 new cases of prostate cancer in 2007; 27,050 cases will result in death.
- The risk of prostate cancer is higher for individuals who have close relatives with the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute.
- More than 70% of the diagnoses take place after the age of 65. Earlier detection could increase survival rates, says the National Cancer Institute.
Who Should Be Checked For Prostate Cancer?
The American Urological Association encourages annual testing for any man 40 years old or older, and any man experiencing the following symptoms:
Difficulty in urination
A weak urine stream
Interruptions in urination
Sudden urges to urinate
Straining to begin urination
Blood in urine or semen
Pain or burning during urination
Pain in lower pelvic area
Sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder
For more information, visit The National Cancer Institute at www.cancer.gov or the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.
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