Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men — and one of the most treatable when it’s found early.
Prostate cancer happens when cells in the prostate — a small gland that sits below the bladder — begin to grow out of control. About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and most diagnoses happen after age 50.
When prostate cancer is caught at an early stage, the five-year survival rate is about 99%. Caught late, after it has spread, that number drops to roughly 37%. Early-stage prostate cancer typically doesn’t require chemotherapy. The difference between those two outcomes usually comes down to one thing — whether it was found before symptoms started.
Not everyone faces the same risk
Risk isn’t distributed evenly. The main factors are:
- Age — risk rises steadily as you get older, and most cases are diagnosed after 50
- Family history — especially a close relative diagnosed young
- Race and ethnicity — about 1 in 6 Black men will develop prostate cancer, and Black men are roughly twice as likely to die from it as White men
- Lifestyle factors
Symptoms show up late — if at all
Early prostate cancer often has no symptoms at all. Roughly half of men will have no symptoms until the cancer has already spread. When symptoms do appear, they can include:
- Difficulty urinating or urinating more frequently
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Erectile dysfunction
- Pain in the hips, back, or pelvis
Waiting for symptoms is not a screening strategy. By the time they arrive, the easiest window has often closed.
Why it’s worth doing
A lot of men avoid screening because it feels like an invitation to bad news. In reality, screening usually confirms that nothing is wrong. And men who screen have a 75% higher chance of being diagnosed at an early stage, when treatment is most effective and least disruptive.
Screening is quick, it’s easy, and it keeps you in control of your own health. If you’re 50 or older — or 40 and at higher risk — it’s worth a conversation with your doctor.
Color’s Virtual Cancer Clinic includes early detection and screening services. Take a 5-7 minute questionnaire to receive a personalized screening plan. If eligible, receive a free PSA screening kit to get screened for prostate cancer.
Learn about your HII cancer-screening resources on hiibenefits.com | cancer.org/getscreened
