Facts
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Prostate cancer incidence rates increased 192 percent between 1973
and 1992.
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In the next 24 hours, prostate cancer will claim the lives of over
100 American men. (National Prostate Cancer Coalition)
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In 2007, the American Cancer Society projects there will be 218,890 new cases of prostate cancer (29 percent of all adult male cancers) and 27,050 deaths (9 percent of all male cancer deaths) from prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting men in the
Western world. In 2002, the American Cancer Society projects there will
be 189,000 new cases of prostate cancer (30 percent of all adult male
cancers) and 30,200 deaths (11 percent of cancer deaths) from prostate
cancer.
"Prostate cancer is the leading type of cancer in men and the second
leading cause of death in American males," says Richard Williams,
M. D., professor and head of the University of Iowa Department of Urology.
"The good news is that the incidence rate has decreased by 5.1
percent and the death rate has decreased by 3.5 percent between 1992 and1998,
suggesting that screenings may work," says Williams.
The prostate is a male sex gland that produces a fluid that forms part
of the semen. About the size of a walnut, the prostate is located below
the bladder and in front of the rectum.
"Risk factors for prostate cancer include age, race, and heredity,"
says Carolyn Beelner, R.N., O.C.N., with the Holden Comprehensive Cancer
Center's Cancer Information Service. "Simply growing older increases
the likelihood of getting prostate cancer." The fastest growing group
of men diagnosed with prostate cancer is the 50-to-60 age group.
African-American men have the world's highest incidence of prostate
cancer--one-third higher than white Americans. Asian men have much lower
rates.
If three relatives have the disease, you are 10 times more likely to
get prostate cancer. If your father or your brother has prostate cancer,
you are two to three times more likely to develop prostate cancer.
For more information, contact the Holden Cancer Center Information Service
at 800-237-1225.
Symptoms
Compared with most cancers, prostate cancer tends to grow slowly and
it may be decades from the time of the earliest cell changes detected
under a microscope until the cancer causes symptoms. Early prostate cancer
often doesn't exhibit any symptoms so regular examinations are especially
important. When symptoms do occur, they may include:
- Frequent urination
- Difficulty starting or stopping urination
- Inability to urinate
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine
- Painful or burning urination
- Painful ejaculation
- Blood in urine or semen
- Persistent pain in lower back, hips, upper thighs.
What's on the horizon?
David Lubaroff, Ph. D., University of Iowa Department of Urology professor
and Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center researcher; Badrinath Konety, M.D.,
assistant professor of urology; Brian Link, M.D., assistant professor
of oncology, and Richard Williams, M.D., head of the Department of Urology,
are leading the nation's first-ever clinical trial of an adenovirus/prostate
specific antigen vaccine.
Currently in phase 1, this vaccine trial shows promise as one of the
new generation of therapies designed to help a patient's immune system
redirect its efforts at fighting prostate cancer cells, even when those
cells have metastasized throughout the body.
"I have high expectations and every reason to think gains will
be made in this area," said Jack Leonard of Lisbon, Iowa, one of
the phase 1 volunteers. The 68-year-old father of five was first diagnosed
with prostate cancer in 1996 and has been treated with surgery and hormone
therapy, and is now a pioneer member of the clinical trial.
"If they can hold the cancer in check, or even better, knock it
down, that would be great," says Leonard. "Or better yet, develop
a vaccine to be given at a certain age and never worry about prostate
cancer again."
Prostate Cancer Research Group investigators Tim Ratliff, Ph.D., Hebbeln
Professor of Prostate Cancer Research, and Tom Griffith, Ph.D., assistant
professor of urology, are developing further prostate cancer vaccines
and will begin additional trials within the next year. |
For More Information:
UI Department of Urology
Holden Comprehensive Cancer
Center
Cancer Information Service
|
