Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States, with about 1 in 5 men diagnosed with it in the US. Prostate cancer usually grows very slowly and can go undetected. Although finding and treating it before symptoms occur may not improve men’s health or help them live longer, the disease has a 97.8% 5-year survival rate.
Current diagnostic tests for prostate cancer include physical exams, digital rectal exams, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests, ultrasound imaging, or MRI. It is not uncommon to employ watchful waiting and active surveillance as the first step in treatment until the cancer begins to grow and requires additional treatment.
