Age
Of all demographic factors associated with prostate cancer, age is the most important. Nearly two out of every three prostate cancers are discovered in men at least 65 years old. According to the American Cancer Society, the probability of a white man developing prostate cancer in his forties is 1 in 375. In comparison, the likelihood of that same man developing prostate cancer in his seventies is 1 in 12, or approximately 8 percent.
Race/Ethnicity
In terms of race, African Americans prove to be at the highest risk of developing prostate cancer in their lifetime. One out of every 168 African American men in their forties will develop prostate cancer. The odds are 1 in 9 that prostate cancer will be diagnosed in African Americans in their seventies, or around 11 percent, and African Americans are nearly twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as Hispanics. Caucasians show the second highest risk of developing prostate cancer of all ethnic groups. Historically, rates for prostate cancer incidences in most ethnic groups reached an all-time high around 1993. At that time, incidence rates for African American men were approximately 350 per 100,000 men, while whites were close to 250 per 100,000 men.
Geographic Factors
In contrast to unavoidable factors like age or race, different geographic areas show variations in incidence rates of prostate cancer. Within the United States, the areas where the highest incidences of prostate cancer for white males occur are the Midwest and Mountain States. In contrast, African American incidences of prostate cancer are highest in the southeastern part of the country.
For both whites and African Americans, incidence rates in the state of Georgia are on par with what is seen in many northern states. However, prostate cancer death rates in Georgia are among the worst in the nation. Both Caucasians and African Americans in Georgia show an increased probability of death due to prostate cancer when compared with other states.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with prostate cancer in Georgia and feel there was a failure to diagnose the disease as early as possible, please request one of the Dover Law Firm’s several free resources on cancer, including our in-depth report on prostate cancer, or our free book, I Have Cancer…Should It Have Been Caught Earlier?. Also, be sure to contact an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice attorney at the Dover Law Firm at 770-518-1133 or go to our website and fill out our online contact form to schedule a no-charge consultation to discuss your legal options.