Prostate disease facts and figures

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

In the UK, 3.2 million men suffer from the symptoms of BPH.

BPH is thought to affect over one third of men over 50 years of age.

Nearly half of all men with BPH have some form of sexual problem, such as difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection.

In 2009, we conducted a study into BPH diagnosis and treatment in the UK, called the ProState of the Nation report. It documents the prevalence of BPH and the current cost to the NHS for treating it. You can download and read the report here.

Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer accounts for one quarter of all cancers diagnosed in men. _1,2,3,4

37,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK each year.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in UK men.

In 2009, prostate cancer killed 9,402 men in England and Wales and 790 men in Scotland. _2,9

As of 2009, the current average age of a UK male is 77.9 years. At age 65, a male is expected to live for on average another 17.8 years. _8,9

93% of prostate cancer deaths occur in men aged over 65. ₉

Prostate cancer survival rates

The prostate cancer five-year survival rate is 77% (men in England diagnosed 2001-2006), compared to 31% for patients diagnosed in 1971-75. _5,6,7

Prostate cancer on average kills 10,000 men each year in the UK. That’s one every hour._1,2,3

Prostate cancer risk factors

• Age is the number one risk factor. The chances of developing a prostate disease increase as you get older. Though rare in men under 40, 60% of prostate cancer cases are in men over 70.₁₀
• Family history. If a close relative developed prostate cancer before he was 60, you are four times more likely to develop it._11,12,13
• Ethnicity. The highest rates of prostate cancer are recorded in Afro-Caribbean men._14,15,16
• Diets high in red meats and saturated fats are also considered a contributory factor.₁₇

Prostatitis

There is so little currently known about prostatitis there are no reliable statistics on its prevalence. We do know that it commonly affects men in the age range of 30-50 years and that prostatitis accounts for almost a quarter of all consultations with a urologist.

Prostate Action aims to bridge this gap in our existing knowledge through funding research into every aspect of prostatitis. We can only achieve this with your donations and support.

References

1. Office for National Statistics, Cancer Statistics registrations: Registrations of cancer diagnosed in 2007, England. Series MB1 no.38. 2010, National Statistics: London.
2. ISD Online. Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Survival data. Accessed 2010
3. Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit, Cancer Incidence in Wales. 2010
4. Northern Ireland Cancer Registry. Cancer Incidence and Mortality. Accessed 2010
5. Coleman, M.P., et al., C Cancer Survival Trends in England & Wales, 1971-1995 Deprivation & NHS Region. 1999: The Stationery Office.
6. Rachet, B., et al., Population-based cancer survival trends in England and Wales up to 2007:an assessment of the NHS cancer plan for EnglandThe Lancet Oncology (2009). Standardised figures were provided by the author on request.
7. Office for National Statistics (ONS), Survival Rates in England, patients diagnosed 2001-2006 followed up to 2007
8. Office for National Statistics (ONS), Life expectancy at birth and aged 65 by local area in the United Kingdom, 2009
9. Office for National Statistics (ONS), Mortality statistics 2009
10. Sakr, W.A., et al., Age and racial distribution of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Eur Urol, 1996. 30(2): p. 138-44
11. Bratt, O., Hereditary prostate cancer: clinical aspects. J Urol, 2002. 168(3): p. 906-13
12. Carter, B., et al.,   Proc Natl Acad Sci, 1992. 89: p. 3367-71
13. Johns, L.E. and R.S. Houlston, A systematic review and meta-analysis of familial prostate cancer risk. BJU Int, 2003. 91(9): p. 789-94
14. Jack, R.H., E.A. Davies, and H. Moller, Testis and prostate cancer incidence in ethnic groups in South East England. Int J Androl, 2007. 30(4): p. 215-20; discussion 220-1
15. Ben-Shlomo, Y., et al., The risk of prostate cancer amongst black men in the United Kingdom: the PROCESS cohort study. Eur Urol, 2008. 53(1): p. 99-105
16. Wild, S.H., et al., Mortality from all cancers and lung, colorectal, breast and prostate cancer by country of birth in England and Wales, 2001-2003. Br J Cancer, 2006. 94(7): p. 1079-85
17. World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research, Food, nutrition, physical activity and the prevention of cancer: A global perspective. 2007, Washington: American Institute for Cancer Research.