Recent statistics projecting the cancer incidence in the United States for 2010 have a number of interesting items buried inside the data charts. I thought that three items were particularly interesting and relevant, so I want to share them with you.

1- The 2010 expected death rate per 100,000 cases for the “Good Cancer” (prostate cancer) is 26.7 men. The 2010 expected death rate per 100,000 cases for female breast cancer is 25 per 100,000 cases. I am not sure that these numbers reflect a statistical difference, but it clearly shows that, at the least, prostate cancer is as lethal as female breast cancer.

2- The Prostate Cancer New Cases Incidence Rate per 100,000 is projected to be 155.5, which is a significant up tick from prior years. The Female Breast Cancer New Cases Incidence rate per 100,000 is projected to be lower, 121.8.

3- Why were the breast cancer statistics limited to female breast cancer? Men do get breast cancer. There is no question that compared to the numbers of women fighting breast cancer many fewer men do get breast cancer. However, there are men who are forced to fight that dread disease, we should never forget their plight.

Both the numbers for breast and prostate cancers are way to high too be acceptable.

However, I have to wonder what is so good about prostate cancer.

(thank you Fred Gersh for forwarding these statistics and calling them to my attention. Figures taken from: ACS Facts & Figures 2010)

Joel T Nowak, M.A., M.S.W.