Prostate cancer is the third most common cancer among men in India and the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among men worldwide, with 70% of cases occurring in developed countries.
What sets this cancer apart (other than its commonality) is how brilliantly treatable it is. The five-year survival rate for most men with non-metastatic prostate cancer is nearly 100%. Most men live well after receiving the right treatment for prostate cancer. Even celebrities such as John Kerry, Ben Stiller, and Warren Buffett were once diagnosed with prostate cancer, received treatment, and are leading perfectly normal lives today. But why does this happen? What makes prostate cancer so special in terms of high survival rates?
Prostate Cancer Shows Up Early
The larger-than-life survival rates for prostate cancer are neither a miracle nor a coincidence. In sync with the concept of Early Detection = Better Treatment, this cancer type enjoys better outcomes because it usually gets diagnosed at an early stage.
How Come Prostate Cancer Gets Diagnosed So Early?
Studies show that prostate cancer is a very slow-growing cancer by nature and doesn’t metastasize too early, allowing room for early detection. In fact, most prostate cancers (~92%) are detected while the tumor is still confined to the prostate and/or nearby organs (known as 'Local' or 'Regional' stage). This is largely due to the availability of a simple blood test called PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen), a tumor marker for prostate cancer whose levels rise in affected patients.
Serum PSA levels are used as a screening tool for early detection and can also help detect recurrence. A rising PSA level after radiation, hormonal therapy, or a detectable PSA after surgical removal of the prostate gland indicates recurrence.
Another factor impacting survival outcomes is the Gleason’s Score—a marker of the biological aggressiveness of cancer cells. A Gleason’s Score of 7 or higher is considered high-risk and is used to determine prognosis.
Data Reveals Optimistic Survival Rates For Prostate Cancer Patients
In cancer terminology, five-year survival rates refer to the percentage of people who live at least five years after diagnosis. Some aggressive cancers, like lung cancer, have survival rates as low as 15%. In contrast:
- The five-year survival rate for most men with local or regional prostate cancer is almost 100%.
- The ten-year survival rate for non-metastatic prostate cancer is 98%.
- The fifteen-year survival rate for non-metastatic prostate cancer is 96%.
Beyond the numbers, the real hope lies in knowing that men treated successfully 15 years ago continue to lead normal, healthy lives—all thanks to a simple blood test and the slow-growing nature of this cancer.
But.
While early detection leads to better treatment, the reverse is also true. When symptoms are subtle, ignored, or misdiagnosed, prostate cancer can go undetected and metastasize. For metastatic prostate cancer, the five-year survival rate drops sharply to just 29%.
Prostate Cancer & Mortality
According to 2018 data from the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in men worldwide, with the highest mortality rates among Black populations, followed by Americans, and very low rates in Asian populations. Although death rates are declining, each patient’s journey is unique. Prognosis and survival depend on the biological type (local, regional, metastatic), disease stage, and timing of detection.