Important Facts for Prostate Cancer Deaths

Definition

The rate of death from cancer of the prostate (ICD-10: C61) per 100,000 men.

Numerator

The number of deaths due to prostate cancer for a given year (ICD-10: C61).

Denominator

The male population in Utah or the U.S. for a given year.

Why Is This Important?

Prostate cancer is the second most commonly occurring form of cancer for men, and is the second leading cause of cancer death for men in both Utah and the U.S.

Other Objectives

CSTE Chronic Disease Indicators

How Are We Doing?

The age-adjusted prostate cancer mortality rate in Utah has decreased substantially over time, from 32.7 deaths per 100,000 males in 1999 to 19.8 deaths per 100,000 males in 2022. Although the overall mortality rate has declined over the past two decades, trends in prostate cancer mortality vary by different sociodemographic characteristics, including age, geography, and race/ethnicity. For combined years 2018-2022, TriCounty Local Health District (LHD) had the highest prostate cancer mortality rate at 26.6 deaths per 100,000 males whereas the Southeast Utah LHD had the lowest at 13.5 deaths per 100,000 males (see additional data views for additional differences between Utah Small Areas). For the same time period, men who racially identify as either Native American (8.64 deaths per 100,000 males) or Asian (7.7 deaths per 100,000 males) had a significantly lower rate of prostate cancer mortality (though caution should be used in interpreting these rates as these estimates have a high coefficient of variation), while men who racially identify as Pacific Islander had a significantly higher rate of prostate cancer mortality (45.4 deaths per 100,000 males) compared to other races.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

Compared to Utah, the U.S. age-adjusted prostate cancer mortality rate has had a more steady decline over time. The national mortality rate over the past two decades has generally been lower than those in Utah. In 2022, the Utah age-adjusted prostate cancer mortality rate was 19.8 deaths per 100,000 males while the national rate was 18.7 deaths per 100,000 males.

What Is Being Done?

The mission of the Utah Cancer Coalition is to lower cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality in Utah through collaborative efforts directed toward cancer prevention and control. As a result, they support community-based strategies around food security, healthy neighborhoods, access to health care, and financial toxicity in order to prevent cancer; detect cancer early; and improve the lives of cancer survivors, caregivers, and their families.

Evidence-based Practices

Screening recommendations have changed over time. Until recently, many doctors and professional organizations encouraged yearly PSA screening for men beginning at age 50. However, as more has been learned about both the benefits and harms of prostate cancer screening, a number of organizations have begun to caution against routine population screening. Although some organizations continue to recommend PSA screening, there is widespread agreement that any man who is considering getting tested should first be informed in detail about the potential harms and benefits. Since 2018, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that those aged 55-69 with a prostate discuss the potential benefits and potential harms of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening for prostate cancer before deciding on whether or not to be screened. Healthy diet, exercise, and lifestyle play an important role in cancer prevention.