Prostate Disease - Facts and Stats:

• One in seven Canadian men will develop clinically significant cancer in his lifetime. Of these men, 1/5 will die of prostate cancer.
• Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men, yet public awareness remains low in comparison with other forms of cancer.
• In Canada, in 2006 , prostate cancer is estimated to rise to 20,700 new cases (up from  16,900 in 2000). (4200 will die). In B.C. 3000 new cases are estimated for 2006  with an estimated mortality of 570. Among all forms of cancer in men, prostate cancer has the second highest death rate yet Federal government funding for prostate cancer from 1992 to 2002 was only $17 million.
• Prostate cancer afflicts men 45 years of age and older, with the incidence increasing with age. The British Columbia Foundation for Prostate Disease advocates annual DRE and PSA tests for all men over 45. Men with a family history of prostate cancer are at increased risk so these examinations and tests should begin at age 40.
• Prostate cancer has no known causes or prevention, unlike HIV/AIDS, heart or lung diseases.
• Approximately 55 % of prostate cancer cases are detected only after the cancer has spread and is incurable.
• Detection and treatment in its earliest stages (while it is still small and confined to the prostate) provides the best chance for a complete cure.
• Three methods of diagnosing prostate cancer are:

  - prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test

  - digital rectal examination (DRE)

  - transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)

• PSA tests are not covered by the Medical Services Plan (MSP). Prostate cancer is a "silent disease" and the best chance for a cure is through early detection before the onset of symptoms. The PSA test is the single best blood test for detecting tumours in all forms of cancer and should be used in conjunction with the DRE.

Common Myths and Half Truths

MYTH: It is a slow moving, indolent disease. This implies that early detection and treatment are not very important.

FACT: It can be slow moving but not always. Many forms of prostate cancer are aggressive and therefore, health/life threatening.

MYTH: More men die with it than from it. Implication: It is, by nature, a chronic, seldom fatal disease.

FACT: While partially true, but there are still a large number of men who die prematurely from it, often very painful, debilitating deaths.

MYTH: It is an old man’s disease. Implication: It affects only men who are in their final years of their life anyway, so that the loss of quality years and productivity is not significant.

FACT: What is old when you're vital and active ? While the average man diagnosed with prostate cancer may be over 65, significant numbers of men are diagnosed under 65, having a normal life expectancy of 15-20 or more years. Increasingly men in their 40's and 50’s are being diagnosed and treated. Men of any age are entitled to quality of life and enjoyment of their normal life span.

MYTH: There is no evidence that early detection and treatment result in increased disease-free life or survival time and when quality of life factors are taken into account (i.e. side effects of treatment), detection and treatment may cause more harm than good.

FACT 1: Recent reports from research studies conducted in North America and Europe are suggesting that an annual PSA screening program results in the early detection of a high percentage of cancers that are still organ confined ans therefore more treatable. Evidence supporting benefits of early detection is mounting.

FACT 2: Urologists, not survivors, have estimated quality of life factors, and survivors may be more willing to accept trade-offs. Men have the right to know about early detection and treatments, and to make up their own informed decisions.

MYTH: Maybe it’s better not to know if I have prostate cancer.

FACT: It is never better not to know if you have a malignant disease that could be aggressive and potentially life-threatening. There are many choices among ever improving treatments. Early detection and treatments provides the best chance of cure or disease control.