Approximately 1 in 8 men in the United States will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. More than 99% of prostate cancers occur in men over age 50.

Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in men. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 268,490 men will receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer in the United States in 2022.

Prostate cancer is rare in men under age 40. Most men are over age 65 when they receive their diagnosis. If it’s caught early, prostate cancer has a very good chance of survival.

Read on to learn more about how common prostate cancer is, what factors put you at risk, and how to prevent it.

According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 8 men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, and about 1 in 41 men will die of prostate cancer.

Most men who receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer survive more than 5 years. More than 3.1 million men diagnosed with prostate cancer are still alive.

Prostate cancer most commonly occurs in people ages 65 to 74. The average age at the time of diagnosis is 66 years. More than 99% of prostate cancers occur in people over 50.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Louisiana has the higher rates of prostate cancer in the continental United States and Arizona has the lowest.

Metastatic cancer on the rise in younger people

Rates of metastatic prostate cancer seem to be on the rise in the United States. Metastatic cancer means the cancer has spread to distant organs.

In a 2022 study, researchers found a 41% increase in metastatic prostate cancer rates in men ages 45 to 75 and a 43% increase in men over 75 from 2010 to 2018, despite the overall rates of prostate cancer decreasing.

Researchers found that the increase may correlate with changes in screening guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

In 2008, the task force recommended against routine prostate cancer screening for men older than age 75. In 2012, the task force recommended against routine screening for all men.

Should you undergo periodic screening for prostate cancer?

According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, periodic screening for prostate cancer offers a small potential benefit of reducing the chance of death in some people.

However, the decision to undergo screening must be weighed against the potential drawbacks of screening. These include:

  • false-positive test results
  • the need for additional testing, such as biopsies
  • potential complications, such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction

If you’re considering periodic screening for prostate cancer, talk with a doctor about your individual risk factors and the pros and cons of screening.

American Cancer Society’s recommendations for prostate cancer screening

The American Cancer Society recommends that all people who are considering prostate cancer screening receive information about the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening, and discuss their individual health risks with their doctor.

For people who decide to go ahead with screening, the American Cancer Society offers the following guidelines:

  • Age 50 for men at average risk: These people are expected to live at least 10 more years.
  • Age 45 for men at high risk: This includes African Americans and men who have a first degree relative (father or brother) who had prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65).
  • Age 40 for men at even higher risk: This includes those with more than one first degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age.
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Age is the top risk factor for developing prostate cancer. About 99% of prostate cancers occur in people over the age of 50. It’s often more aggressive when it develops in younger people.

Other risks for developing prostate cancer include:

Learn more about prostate cancer risk factors here.

Family history

Roughly 5% to 15% of prostate cancers are linked to genes passed through families. According to a 2022 review, inherited mutations in the BRCA1 gene are associated with a threefold risk of developing prostate cancer. Mutations in the BRCA2 gene are associated with an eightfold risk.

Your doctor may suspect that inherited genes are contributing to your prostate cancer if you have:

  • three or more first degree relatives with prostate cancer (children, siblings, or parents)
  • prostate cancer in three generations on one side of your family
  • two or more close relatives, such as an uncle, nephew, or parent, who had prostate cancer before age 55

Many of the risk factors for prostate cancer, such as your genetics, race, and age, are out of your control. No preventive measures have been definitively proven to reduce your chances of developing prostate cancer.

Some research has found that overweight and obesity might increase the chances of developing prostate cancer or increase the chances of it being fatal. However, more research is needed to understand the connection.

To minimize your prostate cancer risk, the American Cancer Society recommends:

  • getting to and maintaining a moderate weight
  • staying physically active
  • eating a balanced diet, which includes:
    • a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables
    • whole grains
    • limited amount of processed meats, sugary drinks, and highly processed foods

Learn more about diet and prostate cancer.

Frequent ejaculation may lower the risk of prostate cancer

Frequent ejaculation may be linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer.

In a 2016 study, researchers found men ages 20 to 49 who ejaculated 21 times per month had about a 20% lower chance of developing prostate cancer than men who ejaculated four to seven times per month.

Learn more about preventing prostate cancer here.

Why is prostate cancer so common?

Prostate cancer becomes more common with age. Medical professionals expect that rates will increase as the population ages. About 5% to 15% of prostate cancers are linked to genes inherited from your parents.

What are the initial symptoms of prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer usually doesn’t cause symptoms until it’s large enough to put pressure on your urethra. Your urethra is the tube that carries urine out of your body from your bladder.

Initial symptoms may include:

Learn more about prostate cancer symptoms here.

Is prostate cancer usually fatal?

The 5-year relative survival rate of prostate cancer is about 99% in the United States. This means that men with prostate cancer live at least 5 years about 99% as often as men who don’t have prostate cancer.

Learn more about prostate cancer stages and survival rates here.

What percentage of men develop prostate cancer?

About 13% of men will receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer in their lives. It’s estimated that more than 80% of men will develop prostate cancer by age 80, but it’s usually slow growing, low grade, and has little impact on survival.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the United States. It’s estimated that about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed in their lifetime. African American men have the highest risk of developing prostate cancer.

Maintaining a moderate weight, eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly may help prevent your chances of developing prostate cancer.

Some research suggests that frequent ejaculation may also decrease your risk, but more research is needed to understand the link.