ABSTRACT
With the exception of skin cancers, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men and the second leading cause of cancer death in many industrialized nations. In 2004, the American Cancer Society estimates that 29,900 American men will die from prostate cancer and 230,110 will be diagnosed with this disease.1 Until the late 1980s the incidence and mortality of prostate cancer was rising in most western countries. During the past decade, death rates have declined in some parts of the world while rising in others (Table 1.1). Epidemiologists have closely followed these trends with great interest because they provide insight into the efficacy of screening for prostate cancer using prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Whether the decline in prostate cancer mortality can be attributed to early diagnosis and treatment is the subject of much controversy and debate. This chapter will examine recent trends in prostate cancer mortality and explore potential explanations for these changes.
