Welcome to the Prostate Cancer Section of Cancer Care's Web Site Prostate cancer is now the most common non-skin cancer affecting American men. In 2001, approximately 198,100 new cases will be diagnosed. Although widespread testing and new diagnostic tools have resulted in earlier diagnosis, there is still concern that not enough is being done to educate the public about prostate cancer, and how it is treated. However, younger men can also be affected. Other factors can also put someone at higher risk for the disease.
Researchers do agree that hormones play some role.
There is also speculation about diet and industrial cancer-causing agents, and genetic factors have recently become suspect. For a comprehensive discussion of research on causes and risk factors from the American Cancer Society click here . Because prostate cancer is, compared with other types of cancer, relatively slow growing, there are also differing recommendations on early detection and screening, especially if you are over 50. Many older men with prostate cancer die with it, but not from it. For a thoughtful discussion on screening and detection from the Prostate Cancer InfoLink, click here .