Screening
Though prostate cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death among Canadian men, most men diagnosed with the disease do not die from it. Screening could play a role in that, and the Canadian Cancer Society recommends men thinking about getting tested for prostate cancer learn as much as they can about screening so they can make the most informed decisions possible.
Speaking with a personal physician about screening is recommended, as the effects of screening continue to be studied by researchers.
Common cancer
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer across the globe. According to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), age is a considerable risk factor for prostate cancer. Statistics Canada says 98 per cent of all prostate cancers in Canada are diagnosed in men who are 50 or older.
Incidence rates vary significantly depending on geography. For example, rates are highest in Australia, New Zealand, northern and western Europe, and North America. But the variation in incidence rates can likely be traced to differences in screening practices. That might explain why the five- and 10-year survival rates are high in Europe and North America, where prostate cancer screenings are more openly discussed, but lower in some Asian and African countries, where screening is not as readily available as it is elsewhere.
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