We tend to think of prostate cancer as a disease that affects older men. In fact, you may often hear that men older than 70 usually die with prostate “cancer,” not because of it.
But according to an alarming, new analysis published in the influential journal Cancer, prostate cancer among younger men has increased in most countries around the world in recent decades.
So—how does that new trend square with claims that we’re, “winning the war on cancer”?
Well, it doesn’t. Because, as this analysis shows, we aren’t winning the war. And prostate cancer is still a woefully understudied disease, especially compared to breast cancer.
Let’s take a closer look at the findings…
Research, screening, diagnosing, and treatment still woefully inadequate
For the new analysis, researchers looked at data from the long-standing U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER) program, as well as worldwide data from the Global Burden of Disease program (which I’ve written about before).
They found that prostate cancer rates in men in all age groups between 15 and 40 years have steadily increased globally at an average rate of 2 percent per year, for the past three decades. They even found that men as young as 17 are now experiencing increasing rates of prostate cancer in much of the world.
Of course, this increase is bad news in many ways.
For one, prostate cancer is much more dangerous when you get it at a younger age. In fact, according to this analysis, in the U.S., younger men diagnosed with prostate cancer are more than six times more likely to have metastatic tumors (tumors that have already spread) than older men diagnosed with it.
Plus, prostate cancer tumors in younger men seem to behave differently than those found in older men…and they typically don’t respond as well to conventional treatments.
Therefore, it’s not too surprising that the researchers also found that younger men diagnosed with prostate cancer have much lower survival rates than older men.
Just consider this…
Among men between the ages of 40 and 80, the overall five-year survival rates are between 95 and 100 percent. That figure drops down to just 80 percent among men between 25 and 34, and to 50 percent in those between 20 and 29. Finally, for men between the ages of 15 and 24, the five-year survival rate is a grim 30 percent.
So, clearly, the younger the patient at the time of diagnosis, the lower their survival rate.
Of course, we see this trend with other types of cancer as well, including breast cancer. (Though the researchers failed to make this point.) Indeed, as I found while researching for my Ph.D. dissertation, the biology of breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men share many similarities in terms of long-term growth and poor survival rates.
Still no answers
The researchers said they’re “uncertain” about what’s causing the increasing rate of prostate cancer diagnosis in younger men.
But we should talk about one confounding factor…and it’s one that inflates prostate cancer diagnoses across the board.
I’m talking about the deeply flawed prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.
As you know, this test is wrong a staggering 75 percent of the time. And it shouldn’t be used as a screening test for ANY man—no matter his age.
Yet, according to recent data, 2 percent of men between 30 to 39 years, and 5 percent of men between 40 to 49, with health insurance, were still screened with the PSA test.
But using the PSA as a screening tool for younger men clearly goes against standard medical guidelines. And for older men, this screening tool leads to increasing rates of prostate cancer diagnoses…when they really have what I call “fake” prostate cancer. That is, just a few biopsied cells that look abnormal under a microscope. But these cells, even when left untreated, would never invade adjacent tissue or metastasize. Nor shorten a man’s life.
Granted, the misuse of the PSA among younger men doesn’t really explain why they suffer more often from aggressive, metastatic prostate cancers. For that answer, we need to dive back into the biology, as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggested upon seeing this new analysis. (Though, don’t hold your breath. The CDC can’t even handle its real mission to prevent and control infectious diseases—as we’re currently experiencing!)
So, while the CDC and its co-dependents continue to look for answers in all the wrong places, I suggest turning your attention to preventing prostate cancer in the first place by making some simple dietary and lifestyle changes. You can start by adding these five foods to your diet!
In addition, you can learn everything you need to know about how to NATURALLY conquer prostate cancer in my comprehensive, science-backed Insider’s Ultimate Guide to Perfect Prostate Health. To learn more about this innovative learning protocol, or to enroll today, click here now.
P.S. Join me this Sunday, April 26th at 3 PM (EST) as I host my live Conquer Inflammation Summit. In it, I’ll reveal all of the inflammation-fighting techniques that I’ve personally researched and studied for decades. Because, as you may know, it’s the No. 1 cause of aging and disease. So, don’t miss out! Space is limited, but you can reserve your spot today. Click here now!
Source:
“Prostate cancer in young men: An emerging young adult and older adolescent challenge.” Cancer, 2020 Jan 1;126(1):46-57. doi.org/10.1002/cncr.32498