The New York State Department of Health is marking Prostate Cancer Awareness Month by urging people with a prostate to become informed about the disease and discuss screening options with their health care providers.
“Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. “Talking with your health care provider is an important first step in understanding your personal risk and the options available to you.”
Statistics show that one in seven males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. In New York State, it remains the second most frequently diagnosed cancer among males after skin cancer, with around 17,000 new cases each year and approximately 1,650 deaths attributed to the disease annually.
The department notes that anyone with a prostate can develop this type of cancer, including transgender women and gender nonbinary individuals. The condition primarily affects older males; about two-thirds of cases are diagnosed in those aged 65 or older. Non-Hispanic Black males have the highest rates of both diagnosis and mortality from prostate cancer compared to other groups. Specifically, Black males are one and a half times more likely to develop prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from it than white males. Family history also increases risk, particularly for those whose close relatives were diagnosed at a young age.
Screening can detect prostate cancer early before symptoms appear, but there are risks as well as benefits involved. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advises individuals assigned male at birth between ages 55 and 69 to speak with their provider about whether screening is appropriate for them. Those at higher risk should begin these conversations earlier—at age 40 or 45—while routine screening is not recommended for individuals over age 70 unless requested after considering potential risks.
To address disparities in outcomes, the department funds programs like Peer Education, Outreach, and Shared Decision Making for Persons at High Risk for Prostate Cancer Program. This initiative provides education and referrals through peer educators familiar with communities facing greater burdens from the disease.
Research efforts include collaboration on studies such as RESPOND—a national study focused on understanding why men of African ancestry experience higher incidence and more aggressive forms of prostate cancer—and participation in projects examining quality of life following various treatments for lower-risk cancers. The New York State Cancer Registry supports these efforts by collecting data and recruiting participants for ongoing research into racial disparities across multiple types of cancers.
Eligible uninsured residents may access treatment through the New York State Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program.
Additionally, organizations such as the New York State Cancer Consortium coordinate statewide action teams aimed at reducing overall cancer rates through joint public- and private-sector initiatives.
The Department encourages all New Yorkers—especially those at increased risk—to seek information about screening options by consulting their health care providers.
Further details on departmental programs supporting education about cancers can be accessed via https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/cancer/ , while statistics from the New York State Cancer Registry are available at https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/cancer/registry/. More general resources on prevention, treatment options, survivorship, and specific types of cancers can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/index.htm , including information related to survivorship: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/survivors/.
