Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men, with about 18,000 men newly diagnosed each year. More than 3300 Australian men die from prostate cancer each year.
Prostate cancer has one of the highest survival rates of all cancers, with 95% of men likely to survive five years or more. About 220,000 Australian men are alive today after a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
There are two proven risk factors that may increase the chance of developing prostate cancer:
Age: The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age. The risk of getting prostate cancer by the age of 75 is 1 in 7 men. By the age of 85, this increases to 1 in 6 men.
Family history: You have a higher chance of developing prostate cancer if you have a father, brother or son who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The risk increases again if more than one close relative has prostate cancer. Risks are also higher for men whose relatives were diagnosed when young. A family history of other cancers, like breast and ovarian cancers, may also increase your risk of getting prostate cancer.
