How Common are Prostate Diseases?

Approximately 3 million American men have some type of prostate disease. More than half of all men over the age of 65 develop BPH, and almost all men over 85 (about 90%) have it, making it one of the most common health problems for older men. About a quarter of a million surgeries are performed each year in the United States to correct BPH.

Prostate cancer is a frequent cancer diagnosis in  men. Although it is rare in people under the age of 40, it becomes more common in older men, and almost half of men over the age of 70 are thought to have it, but for many men this cancer will not seriously impact their health. About 200,000 men in this country are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year, and about 30,000 die of the disease, making it the second most deadly cancer in men after lung cancer. Approximately one in every six men will be diagnosed with this cancer at some time during his lifetime.

Although prostatitis is less common than BPH or prostate cancer, about 8% of the male population will suffer from it at some point in their lives.