Prostate Cancer Will Be the Most Commonly Diagnosed Cancer for Men in 2014

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) annual report released last week, an estimated 233,000 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, making it the most common cancer affliction for men.

In Ohio alone, nearly 9,000 men will be affected.

The ACS report indicates that the number of prostate cancer diagnoses will slightly exceed breast cancer diagnoses, which many people are surprised to learn. Breast cancer advocates have done an outstanding job the past few decades raising awareness and promoting the importance of women’s health and that has likely led to the decline in incidence rates since 2000.

Similar efforts are underway to raise awareness for prostate health. Each year, The Urology Group sponsors and hosts the ZERO Prostate Cancer 10K/5K race in September, which coincides with Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. In addition, “Movember” events have become a global endeavor to promote awareness and early detection each November.

These efforts help the cause and we endorse them wholeheartedly. However, the ACS report is a reminder that we have a long way to go in combatting prostate cancer. Regular exams for men over 50 are still the key to early detection.

Promoting prostate cancer awareness is a priority for us in 2014, so keep an eye out for our programs over the course of the year.