The numbers of advanced prostate cancer cases in California have spiked, according to alarming new data.
A study found that rates in the state, after declining for years, grew an average of 6.7 percent a year from 2011 to 2021.
The highest increase was seen in the Central Coast, with a 9.1 percent uptick year on year.
Over the course of a decade, this shows a remarkable increase, with rates more than doubling in some parts of the state.
Advanced or ‘distant’ prostate cancer means that the disease has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, or lungs.
Investigators said the rise in advanced prostate cancer rates in California have come after they were starting to stabilize or decrease between 2004 and 2010.
After looking at possible causes for this, they say it is down to changes in screening guidelines between 2008 and 2012.
In 2008, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) scrapped standard or routine screening tests for prostate cancer for men age 75 and older.
Then in 2012, they recommended against routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests for all men, regardless of their age.
The numbers of advanced prostate cancer cases in California have spiked, according to alarming new data
This compares to other types of cancer, such as breast cancer, where a routine screening practice is in place. Women are advised to get a mammogram every two years, starting at age 40 and continuing through age 74.
The USPSTF claimed they scrapped routine screening for prostate cancer to prevent unnecessary and potentially harmful interventions, like surgery, for men whose disease was not serious.
While the study just looked at prostate cancer rates in California, the scientists believe the same trend will apply across the country.
Today, men are advised to decide for themselves the best course of action after talking with their doctor.
About 60 percent of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men who are 65 or older, and it is rare in men under 40. The average age of men when they are first diagnosed is about 67.
PSA screening to detect the most common male cancer is among the most heated topics in men’s health.
It involves a simple blood test for elevated levels of a protein that may signal cancer but also can be caused by less serious prostate problems.
It can find cancer that frequently doesn’t need treatment because it’s too small and slow growing to become deadly.
Doctors say there’s no good way to tell which early cancers might become lethal.
The next step is often radiation or surgery to remove the prostate, which may result in impotence and incontinence.
However, with no routine screening for prostate cancer in place, scientists say rates are on the rise, especially in the advanced stages.
Because prostate cancer, like other cancers, are best treated in earlier stages, experts say all adult men should be aware of changes that could be a sign of the disease.
The prostate is a gland about the size of a walnut, situated just below the bladder in men. It plays a vital role in semen production and ejaculation.
Due to its location, one of the most common signs something is wrong is a change in urinary frequency.
While the amount people urinate can vary widely – anything between four and ten or so times can be seen as normal – it’s a noticeable increase that experts say men need to be aware of.
Sudden urges – needing to rush to the washroom – may also be a sign of a problem.
Investigators said the rise in advanced prostate cancer rates in California have come after they were starting to stabilize or decrease between 2004 and 2010
This could be coupled with difficulty in starting to pee, known medically as hesitancy.
Straining or taking a long time to empty the bladder, a weaker than normal flow and the feeling that the bladder has not fully emptied are also symptoms.
Blood in the urine or semen should also be checked out by a doctor without delay.
These symptoms generally do not mean a man has prostate cancer – more often than not, it could simply be a sign of benign prostate problems that affect more than half of men.
However they should be investigated by a doctor and, if a cause cannot be found, a referral to an experienced urologist should be made.
Signs of advanced cancer that may have spread include bone and back pain, a loss of appetite and unexpected weight loss, fatigue and pain in the testicles.
Commenting on the findings from the new study out of UC San Francisco, lead author Dr Erin Blarigan said: ‘This overall rising trend is alarming and has occurred across age groups, regions of California, races and ethnicities.
‘Our data point to how urgent this problem is. Figuring out the best way to screen for prostate cancer continues to be a challenge for researchers and doctors.
‘Without screening, the number of men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer – when treatments are less effective – increases fast.’
Prostate cancer is now the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer.
About 1 in 44 men will die of prostate cancer.
According to non-profit Zero Prostate Cancer, there were 26,350 new cases in California during 2024 and 4,200 deaths.
