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U.S. National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute

SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Prostate


 

It is estimated that 241,740 men will be diagnosed with and 28,170 men will die of cancer of the prostate in 20121.

The following information is based on NCI’s SEER Cancer Statistics Review2.Use the links on this page to learn more about each statistic type:

Incidence & Mortality

SEER Incidence

From 2005-2009, the median age at diagnosis for cancer of the prostate was 67 years of age3. Approximately 0.0% were diagnosed under age 20; 0.0% between 20 and 34; 0.6% between 35 and 44; 9.5% between 45 and 54; 31.6% between 55 and 64; 35.5% between 65 and 74; 18.6% between 75 and 84; and 4.1% 85+ years of age.

The age-adjusted incidence rate was 154.8 per 100,000 men per year. These rates are based on cases diagnosed in 2005-2009 from 18 SEER geographic areas.

Incidence Rates by Race
Race/EthnicityMale
All Races154.8 per 100,000 men
White146.9 per 100,000 men
Black236.0 per 100,000 men
Asian/Pacific Islander 85.4 per 100,000 men
American Indian/Alaska Native a78.4 per 100,000 men
Hispanic b125.9 per 100,000 men

US Mortality

From 2005-2009, the median age at death for cancer of the prostate was 80 years of age4. Approximately 0.0% died under age 20; 0.0% between 20 and 34; 0.1% between 35 and 44; 1.5% between 45 and 54; 8.0% between 55 and 64; 19.8% between 65 and 74; 38.6% between 75 and 84; and 32.0% 85+ years of age.

The age-adjusted death rate was 23.6 per 100,000 men per year. These rates are based on patients who died in 2005-2009 in the US.

Death Rates by Race
Race/EthnicityMale
All Races 23.6 per 100,000 men
White21.7 per 100,000 men
Black53.1 per 100,000 men
Asian/Pacific Islander 10.0 per 100,000 men
American Indian/Alaska Native a19.7 per 100,000 men
Hispanic b17.8 per 100,000 men

Trends in rates can be described in many ways. Information for trends over a fixed period of time, for example 1996-2009, can be evaluated by the annual percentage change (APC) (See Fast Stats for trends over fixed time intervals) . If there is a negative sign before the number, the trend is a decrease; otherwise it is an increase. If there is an asterisk after the APC then the trend was significant, that is, one believes that it is beyond chance, i.e. 95% sure, that the increase or decrease is real over the period 1996-2009. If the trend is not significant, the trend is usually reported as stable or level. Joinpoint analyses can be used over a long period of time to evaluate when changes in the trend have occurred along with the APC which shows how much the trend has changed between each of the joinpoints.

The joinpoint trend in SEER cancer incidence with associated APC(%) for cancer of the prostate between 1975-2009, All Races
Male
TrendPeriod
2.6*1975-1988
16.5*1988-1992
-11.6*1992-1995
2.21995-2000
-1.9*2000-2009

The joinpoint trend in US cancer mortality with associated APC(%) for cancer of the prostate between 1975-2009, All Races
Male
TrendPeriod
0.9*1975-1987
3.1*1987-1991
-0.71991-1994
-3.9*1994-2004
-3.2*2004-2009

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Survival & Stage

Survival can be calculated by different methods for different purposes. The survival statistics presented here are based on relative survival, which measures the survival of the cancer patients in comparison to the general population to estimate the effect of cancer. The overall 5-year relative survival for 2002-2008 from 18 SEER geographic areas was 99.2%. Five-year relative survival by race was: 99.6% for white men; 96.2% for black men.

Stage Distribution and 5-year Relative Survival by Stage at Diagnosis for
2002-2008, All Races, Males
Stage at Diagnosis Stage
Distribution (%)
5-year
Relative Survival (%)
Localized (confined to primary site) 81 100.0
Regional (spread to regional lymphnodes) 12 100.0
Distant (cancer has metastasized) 4 27.8
Unknown (unstaged) 3 71.1

The stage distribution is based on Summary Stage 2000. (See Fast Stats for more detailed statistics)

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Lifetime Risk

Based on rates from 2007-2009, 16.15% of men born today will be diagnosed with cancer of the prostate at some time during their lifetime. This number can also be expressed as 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with cancer of the prostate during their lifetime. These statistics are called the lifetime risk of developing cancer. Sometimes it is more useful to look at the probability of developing cancer of the prostate between two age groups. For example, 8.54% of men will develop cancer of the prostate between their 50th and 70th birthdays. (See Fast Stats for more detailed statistics, and Probability of Developing and Dying of CancerExternal Web Site Policy for methodology)

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Prevalence

On January 1, 2009, in the United States there were approximately 2,496,784 men alive who had a history of cancer of the prostate. This includes any person alive on January 1, 2009 who had been diagnosed with cancer of the prostate at any point prior to January 1, 2009 and includes persons with active disease and those who are cured of their disease. Prevalence can also be expressed as a percentage and it can also be calculated for a specific amount of time prior to January 1, 2009 such as diagnosed within 5 years of January 1, 2009. (See Fast Stats for more detailed statistics, and Overview of Prevalence StatisticsExternal Web Site Policy for methodology)

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References

All statistics in this report are based on SEER incidence and NCHS mortality statistics. Most can be found within:

Howlader N, Noone AM, Krapcho M, Neyman N, Aminou R, Altekruse SF, Kosary CL, Ruhl J, Tatalovich Z, Cho H, Mariotto A, Eisner MP, Lewis DR, Chen HS, Feuer EJ, Cronin KA (eds). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2009 (Vintage 2009 Populations), National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2009_pops09/, based on November 2011 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site, 2012.

Footnotes

1 Table I-1 (http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2009_pops09/results_single/sect_01_table.01.pdf)
2 Prostate Section (http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/ 1975_2009_pops09/results_merged/ sect_23_prostate.pdf)
3 Table I-11 (http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2009_pops09/results_single/sect_01_table.11_2pgs.pdf)
4 Table I-13 (http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2009_pops09/results_single/sect_01_table.13_2pgs.pdf)
* The APC is significantly different from zero (p<.05).
a Incidence data for Hispanics is based on NHIA and excludes cases from Alaska Native Registry. Hispanic death rates exclude deaths from the District of Columbia, North Dakota and South Carolina.
b Incidence and mortality data for American Indians/Alaska Natives is based on the CHSDA (Contract Health Service Delivery Area) counties.

Definitions

Annual percent change (APC)
The average annual percent change over several years. The APC is used to measure trends or the change in rates over time. For information on how this is calculated, go to Trend Algortihms in the SEER*Stat Help system. The calculation involves fitting a straight line to the natural logarithm of the data when it is displayed by calendar year.

Joinpoint analyses
A statistical model for characterizing cancer trends which uses statistical criteria to determine how many times and when the trends in incidence or mortality rates have changed. The results of joinpoint are given as calendar year ranges, and the annual percent change (APC) in the rates over each period.

Survival
Survival examines how long after diagnosis people live. Cancer survival is measured in a number of different ways depending on the intended purpose.

Relative survival
A measure of net survival that is calculated by comparing observed (overall) survival with expected survival from a comparable set of people that do not have cancer to measure the excess mortality that is associated with a cancer diagnosis.

Stage distribution
Stage provides a measure of disease progression, detailing the degree to which the cancer has advanced. Two methods commonly used to determine stage are AJCC and SEER Summary Stage. The AJCC method (see Collaborative Staging Method) is more commonly used in the clinical settings, while SEER has strived to provide consistent definitions over time with their Local/Regional/Distant staging.

Lifetime risk
The probability of developing cancer in the course of one's lifespan. Lifetime risk may also be discussed in terms of the probability of developing or of dying from cancer. Based on cancer rates from 2007 to 2009, it was estimated that men had about a 45 percent chance of developing cancer in their lifetimes, while women had about a 38 percent chance.

Probability of developing cancer
The chance that a person will develop cancer in his/her lifetime.

Prevalence
The number of people who have received a diagnosis of cancer during a defined time period, and who are alive on the last day of that period. Most prevalence data in SEER is for limited duration because information on cases diagnosed before 1973 is not generally available.

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