Apparently the mortality rates for most men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States are no higher than those in the general population. The bottom line is that most men diagnosed with the disease today can expect to live as long as, or longer than, men their age without the disease.
This is important because more than 220,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, representing about one third of all cancers diagnosed among men, more than any other cancer in men.
The value of prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening in reducing prostate cancer mortality is still in question. Widespread use of the PSA test in the US since the late 1980s means many more men are living with a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The researchers note that it is possible that earlier diagnosis might not in itself mean longer survival. The question of whether PSA screening does in fact reduce mortality from prostate cancer must be answered by large-scale clinical trials, which are currently underway.
Overall, relative 5-year survival rates for prostate cancer patients were 99 percent, and 10-year survival rates were 95 percent. That is, excess mortality compared with the general population was as low as 1 percent and 5 percent within 5 and 10 years following diagnosis.
Fortunately there a number of very effective options in treating prostate cancer. If you want to learn 11 natural solutions for prostate cancer please review my article on prostate cancer treatment options from last year.
Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol(23) January 20, 2005: 407-409