PORTLAND, Ore. (Sept. 26, 2024) — About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. This makes prostate cancer the second most common cancer after breast cancer. Like breast cancer, prostate cancer is highly treatable if caught early.
September marks National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, so physicians at Kaiser Permanente Northwest are emphasizing the importance of prostate cancer screening, particularly for men at higher risk.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, accounting for 14.5% of all new cancer cases in the United States. Approximately 13 out of every 100 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, making awareness and early detection essential.
“Prostate cancer can often go undetected for years, which is why it is important to talk about screening with your primary care physician,” said Dr. Vinayak Muralidhar, a radiation oncologist with Kaiser Permanente Northwest. “If caught early, prostate cancer is highly treatable, and the treatments have become more sophisticated and have fewer side effects than even a few years ago."
“We are hoping to spread awareness, so men understand their risk and make healthy decisions,” said Dr. Muralidhar. “Each man’s risk of prostate cancer can vary, based on age, family history, race/ethnicity, and other factors. For example, prostate cancer is more likely to develop in men who are 65 or older. Prostate cancer risk is also higher in Black men and in Caribbean men of African ancestry. We need to ensure that all men have access to the information and resources necessary to make decisions about screening and early detection.”
Kaiser Permanente Northwest recommends prostate cancer screenings for men aged 55 to 69, although individual risk factors may necessitate different timelines. Men are encouraged to discuss their screening options with their healthcare providers.
Interviews available
Dr. Vinayak Muralidhar, a radiation oncologist with Kaiser Permanente Northwest, is available for Zoom interviews with media this Friday, Sept. 27 btwn. 1-2 p.m. Contact Karen Vitt to schedule.
*Upon request, we can arrange additional interviews with a patient who has survived prostate cancer.
Dr. X is prepared to discuss:
- General information about prostate cancer (which can easily go undetected for a long time)
- When to come in for a check-up and why screening is important
- Health disparities associated with prostate cancer
- Recent advances in early detection of prostate cancer and avoidance of overtreatment
- Treatments if diagnosed and how they’ve improved in recent years
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and nonprofit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.5 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.