What to Know About
Prostate Cancer
250,000+
New prostate cancer diagnoses per year in the United States alone.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer in men.1 In recent years, the U.S. has seen about 250,000 to 315,000 new prostate cancer diagnoses per year, with incidence rising by roughly 3% annually since 2014.2
36,000+
Men are expected to die from prostate cancer in the U.S. this year.
Prostate cancer often causes no noticeable symptoms, so screening is commonly used to detect changes before problems arise. An estimated 36,000 men will die from prostate cancer this year.3
1.7x
Higher incidence in African American men than the overall male population.
Of even deeper concern is the disproportionate impact prostate cancer has on the African American community. African American men are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age, develop more aggressive disease, and have 1.7× higher incidence than the overall male population.
Types of Prostate Cancer
Some prostate cancers are indolent (slow-growing or low-risk) and may never cause symptoms or require treatment. Other prostate cancers are aggressive and more likely to grow, spread, and require treatment to prevent serious health consequences.
Common Risk Factors for
Prostate Cancer
Several factors can increase a man’s likelihood of developing prostate cancer. Some of the
most important include:
- Age: The risk of prostate cancer increases as men get older, particularly after age 50.
- Family history: Having a father, brother, or son with prostate cancer may increase your risk.
- Race and ancestry: African American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer
at a younger age and are more likely to develop aggressive disease. - Inherited genetic changes: Some inherited gene mutations may increase prostate
cancer risk.
While these factors can influence risk, many men who develop prostate cancer have no known
risk factors other than age. Regular discussions with your healthcare provider can help
determine whether prostate cancer screening is appropriate for you.
[1] American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2026. cancer.org. Accessed 2026.
[2] Siegel RL, et al. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024;74:12-49.
[3] American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer. cancer.org. Accessed 2026.
Steps to Assess Prostate Cancer
Identify
The goal is to identify aggressive prostate cancer that requires work up while avoiding unnecessary treatment for cancers that are unlikely to affect health or quality of life.
Test
Looking for prostate cancer often begins with a PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test. When PSA results raise concern, additional tools such as the FDA-approved 4Kscore® Test provide the probability of aggressive prostate cancer before a biopsy decision.
Biopsy
A prostate biopsy is recommended when the combined information suggests a meaningful risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Prostate cancer can only be diagnosed with samples of the prostate gland via biopsy.