Prostate cancer diagnoses on the rise, says study
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- Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
More men are being diagnosed with prostate cancer, the most common cancer among men, according to a study published online Sept. 2, 2025, by CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians from the American Cancer Society.
Using data from the National Cancer Institute and the CDC, researchers reported a rise in the number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer from 2014 to 2021, a reversal from the preceding seven-year span (2007 to 2014). The study also found increases in advanced cancer, which rose by 2.6% per year in men under 55, 6% in men ages 55 to 69, and 6.2% in men ages 70 and older.
The researchers’ findings also confirmed known differences between races. Black men were more likely to develop advanced prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from prostate cancer compared to white men. American Indians and Alaska Natives also had a worse prognosis. The researchers noted that environmental exposures, genetic factors, and differences in cancer screening rates and health care access could contribute to these disparities.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and other organizations have modified their recommendations for prostate cancer screening over the past 25 years, which may have impacted the study results. Recent improvements in diagnosing prostate cancer, even before men get a biopsy, and in treating advanced prostate cancer, will influence prostate cancer statistics going forward and improve the current cancer screening strategies.
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About the Author
Matthew Solan, Former Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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