New Cases of Prostate Cancer by Race and Ethnicity

Talk to your doctor about being screened for prostate cancer.

Chart: Rate of New Prostate Cancer Cases by Race and Ethnicity: United States. Incidence rate per 100,000: All Races – 156.9; White – 145.1; Black – 226; Asian/Pacific Islander – 78.2; American Indian/Alaska Native – 71.7; Hispanic – 121.6

The prostate is part of the male reproductive system, and is located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It is about the size of a walnut. The job of the prostate is to produce fluid that makes up a part of semen.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men regardless of race or ethnicity, but it is more common in some racial and ethnic groups. Prostate cancer is more common in African-American men than in white men.¹ It is less common in Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native American men than in white men.¹
In the United States in 2007 (the most recent year for which numbers are available), 223,307 men developed prostate cancer, and 29,093 men died from the disease.¹
Among men in the United States, the number of new cases of prostate cancer has decreased significantly by 2.4% per year from 2000 to 2006.² The number of deaths from prostate cancer has decreased significantly by 4.1% per year from 1994 to 2006.²
*Incidence counts cover approximately 99% of the U.S. population. Death counts cover 100% of the U.S. population. Use caution in comparing incidence and death counts.

Informed Decision Making

Prostate cancer screening means looking for cancer before it causes symptoms. Not all medical experts agree that screening for prostate cancer will save lives. Currently, there is not enough evidence to decide if the potential benefit of prostate cancer screening outweighs the potential risks. CDC supports informed decision making. Informed decision making occurs when a man—