Prostate cancer is the second-most common type of cancer found in American men, after skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of death in men. This year, the American Cancer Society estimates that there will be more than 180,000 new cases of prostate cancer in this country. It is found most often in men over the age of 50. More than 8 out of 10 of the men with prostate cancer are over the age of 65.
Prostate cancer is almost twice as common among black men as it is among white men.
Traditionally doctors use the microscope to see if cancer has been completely removed after treatment such as radical prostatectomy to remove the cancerous area. Researchers from the University of Virginia have been studying the use of DNA to evaluate the results of surgery. The study included at least 30 consecutive patients who underwent radical prostatectomy. Immediately following the procedure, doctors performed five biopsies of the gland to see if the cancer was gone. Yearly prostate cancer screenings are essential in early detection.