While prostate cancer will claim the lives of an estimated 34,700 American men in 2023 and breast cancer remains a relentless global force with 685,000 deaths in 2020, understanding their contrasting statistics—from risk factors and screening nuances to groundbreaking treatments and survival rates—offers a powerful map for prevention, early detection, and hope.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, an estimated 297,790 new cases of prostate cancer are expected to be diagnosed in American men
- Breast cancer accounts for about 30% of all new cancer cases in women in the US annually
- The lifetime risk of a man developing prostate cancer is about 1 in 8 in the United States
- In 2023, prostate cancer caused 34,700 deaths in US men
- Breast cancer mortality in US women is 19.4 per 100,000, down 43% since 1989
- Globally, 685,000 breast cancer deaths occurred in 2020
- Age is the strongest risk factor for prostate cancer, with 60% of cases over age 65
- Family history increases breast cancer risk 2-3 fold if first-degree relative affected
- African American men have 70% higher prostate cancer risk than other races
- Mammography screening reduces breast cancer mortality by 20-40% in women 40-74
- PSA testing detects 80% of prostate cancers but 50% are indolent
- Digital mammography sensitivity for breast cancer is 85-90%
- Active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer avoids treatment in 50% at 5 years
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves breast cancer pCR rate to 50% in HER2+
- Radical prostatectomy 10-year biochemical recurrence-free survival 75% for low-risk
Prostate and breast cancer are both highly prevalent but have seen declining mortality rates.
Diagnosis and Screening
- Mammography screening reduces breast cancer mortality by 20-40% in women 40-74
- PSA testing detects 80% of prostate cancers but 50% are indolent
- Digital mammography sensitivity for breast cancer is 85-90%
- MRI screening in high-risk women detects 14.7 cancers per 1,000 vs 5.4 for mammography
- Prostate biopsy detects cancer in 40-50% of men with elevated PSA
- 3D mammography reduces recall rates by 15% and increases cancer detection by 24%
- Free PSA under 10% has 56% chance of prostate cancer on biopsy
- Ultrasound-guided biopsy for prostate has 30-40% false negative rate
- Breast self-exam detects 20% of cancers but specificity is low at 90%
- 4Kscore test predicts high-grade prostate cancer with 0.38% risk threshold AUC 0.82
- Tomosynthesis mammography detects 1.1 more invasive cancers per 1,000 screens
- PHI score over 35 predicts prostate cancer with 33% risk
- Clinical breast exam sensitivity is 45-60% for detecting lumps
- Multiparametric MRI for prostate has 89% sensitivity for clinically significant cancer
- Gail model predicts 5-year breast cancer risk with AUC 0.67
- PCA3 urine test specificity 69% for prostate cancer detection
- Contrast-enhanced mammography improves specificity to 91% vs 79% digital
- SelectMDx urine test reduces unnecessary biopsies by 50%
- Risk-based screening starts mammography at age 40 for high-risk women
- PSMA PET/CT detects metastases in 76% of high-risk prostate cancer
- BI-RADS category 4 breast lesions have 2-95% malignancy risk
- ExoDx Prostate test AUC 0.73 for high-grade cancer prediction
- Annual screening mammography from 40-74 reduces mortality 41%
- MRI fusion biopsy increases prostate cancer detection by 30%
- Tyrer-Cuzick model AUC 0.72 for breast cancer risk assessment
- ConfirmMDx test specificity 90% for ruling out prostate cancer
- Automated breast ultrasound detects 2.6 additional cancers per 1,000
- Prostate Health Index (phi) reduces biopsies by 30% at cutoff 25
Diagnosis and Screening Interpretation
While our screening tools are growing sharper—often saving lives by catching cancers earlier and smarter—they remain a delicate balance of necessary intervention and the ever-present risk of overdiagnosis and false assurance.
Incidence and Prevalence
- In 2023, an estimated 297,790 new cases of prostate cancer are expected to be diagnosed in American men
- Breast cancer accounts for about 30% of all new cancer cases in women in the US annually
- The lifetime risk of a man developing prostate cancer is about 1 in 8 in the United States
- Approximately 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed worldwide in 2020
- Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in American men after skin cancer
- Breast cancer incidence rates in US women have been stable since 2012 at around 128 new cases per 100,000 women
- In 2020, prostate cancer was the most frequently diagnosed cancer in 112 countries worldwide
- White women have a slightly higher breast cancer incidence rate of 130 per 100,000 compared to 122 for Black women
- The age-adjusted incidence rate for prostate cancer in the US was 109.3 per 100,000 men in 2019
- Globally, breast cancer represents 11.7% of all cancer cases in 2020
- Localized prostate cancer accounts for 78% of all new prostate cancer diagnoses in the US
- In situ breast cancer incidence has increased to 28 per 100,000 women due to mammography screening
- Prostate cancer incidence peaks in men aged 65-74 at 461 per 100,000 in the US
- Asian/Pacific Islander women have the lowest breast cancer incidence rate at 95 per 100,000 in the US
- In Europe, prostate cancer incidence rates vary from 29 to 162 per 100,000 men
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in 159 countries globally
- US men aged 50-69 have a prostate cancer incidence of 250 per 100,000
- Regional stage breast cancer incidence is 36 per 100,000 US women
- Prostate cancer prevalence in US men over 65 is about 11.1%
- Distant metastatic breast cancer incidence is 7 per 100,000 women in the US
- In Australia, prostate cancer incidence is 144 per 100,000 men
- Hispanic women have breast cancer incidence of 92 per 100,000 in the US
- Prostate cancer diagnosed at age 45-54 has incidence of 66 per 100,000 US men
- Breast cancer in men accounts for less than 1% of all cases, with about 2,800 new cases yearly in US
- UK prostate cancer incidence is 152 per 100,000 men standardized rate
- Breast cancer incidence in India is rising at 2.5% annually
- Prostate cancer in Black men has incidence 1.7 times higher than white men at 169 vs 99 per 100,000
- Early-onset breast cancer under age 50 increased 1.4% per year from 2012-2016
- Prostate cancer regional stage incidence is 20% of cases in US
- Breast cancer prevalence in US women is over 4 million survivors
Incidence and Prevalence Interpretation
While breast cancer casts a wide, global net affecting millions of women, prostate cancer stakes a formidable and deeply personal claim, proving that statistically, every man is essentially rolling eight-sided dice against his own longevity.
Mortality Rates
- In 2023, prostate cancer caused 34,700 deaths in US men
- Breast cancer mortality in US women is 19.4 per 100,000, down 43% since 1989
- Globally, 685,000 breast cancer deaths occurred in 2020
- Prostate cancer mortality rate in US Black men is 2.1 times higher than white men at 39.8 vs 18.9 per 100,000
- US breast cancer deaths total 42,170 in 2023
- Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in US men
- Breast cancer mortality declined 40% from 1989 to 2020 in US
- In 2020, prostate cancer caused 375,304 deaths worldwide
- Late-stage breast cancer diagnosis leads to 32% mortality rate vs 2% for localized
- Prostate cancer age-adjusted mortality in US was 19 per 100,000 men in 2020
- Breast cancer is responsible for 6.9% of all cancer deaths globally
- Distant stage prostate cancer has 30% 5-year mortality
- Breast cancer mortality in women under 50 has decreased 4% per year since 2013
- Prostate cancer mortality in Europe averages 20 per 100,000 men
- Black women have 40% higher breast cancer mortality than white women at 27.4 vs 19.5 per 100,000
- Prostate cancer deaths in men over 75 account for 50% of total US deaths
- Triple-negative breast cancer has 18% 5-year mortality rate
- Regional prostate cancer mortality is low at 7% 5-year rate
- Breast cancer mortality in Asia is lower at 12 per 100,000 vs 27 in Americas
- US prostate cancer mortality declined 52% from 1993 peak to 2020
- Inflammatory breast cancer has 41% 5-year mortality
- Prostate cancer in Australia causes 3,490 deaths yearly at 24 per 100,000
- Male breast cancer mortality is 0.9 per 100,000 men
- UK prostate cancer mortality is 27 per 100,000 men
- Breast cancer deaths in India projected to rise 30% by 2025
- Localized breast cancer mortality is 1% at 5 years
- Prostate cancer mortality in Hispanic men is 18 per 100,000
Mortality Rates Interpretation
While heartening progress has been made against these diseases in many populations, the sobering persistence of stark mortality disparities and late-stage diagnoses reminds us that victories in overall statistics can mask profound, life-or-death inequities that still demand our full attention.
Risk Factors and Prevention
- Age is the strongest risk factor for prostate cancer, with 60% of cases over age 65
- Family history increases breast cancer risk 2-3 fold if first-degree relative affected
- African American men have 70% higher prostate cancer risk than other races
- Obesity increases postmenopausal breast cancer risk by 20-40%
- BRCA1 mutation carriers have 55-72% lifetime prostate cancer risk
- Alcohol consumption raises breast cancer risk by 7-10% per daily drink
- Smoking is linked to 20-30% increased fatal prostate cancer risk
- Dense breast tissue increases breast cancer risk 4-6 times
- Vasectomy may increase prostate cancer risk by 10-20% per meta-analysis
- Hormone replacement therapy post-menopause raises breast cancer risk 26%
- Diet high in red meat increases prostate cancer risk by 12%
- Physical inactivity boosts breast cancer risk by 20-30%
- Lynch syndrome elevates prostate cancer risk to 15-30%
- Early menarche before age 12 increases breast cancer risk 40%
- Dairy consumption over 3 servings daily linked to 60% higher lethal prostate cancer
- Nulliparity raises breast cancer risk 30%
- Statin use may reduce advanced prostate cancer risk by 20%
- Radiation exposure increases breast cancer risk 1.5-2 fold
- Metabolic syndrome raises prostate cancer risk 35%
- Late age at first birth over 30 increases breast cancer risk 15%
- Finasteride reduces low-grade prostate cancer risk by 25% but increases high-grade
- Oral contraceptives slightly increase breast cancer risk by 20% during use
- Aspirin use lowers prostate cancer risk by 10-30%
- Ashkenazi Jewish women have 10-fold higher BRCA1/2 mutation risk for breast cancer
- Vitamin E supplements increase prostate cancer risk by 17%
- Breastfeeding for 12+ months reduces breast cancer risk 4.3%
- Shift work disrupting circadian rhythms raises breast cancer risk 30%
- 5-alpha reductase inhibitors reduce prostate cancer incidence by 25%
Risk Factors and Prevention Interpretation
While we cannot pick our parents, ancestors, or birthday, the sobering math of cancer risk suggests our lifestyle choices—from the fork to the bottle to the gym—can either compound or mitigate the genetic and chronological hand we're dealt.
Survival and Prognosis
- 5-year survival for localized prostate cancer is 100%
- Breast cancer 5-year relative survival overall is 91% in US
- Regional prostate cancer 5-year survival 100%, distant 32%
- Localized breast cancer 5-year survival 99.3%, regional 86.4%
- 10-year prostate cancer survival 98% overall
- HR+ HER2- breast cancer 10-year survival 84%
- Low-risk prostate cancer 15-year cancer-specific survival 97%
- Triple-negative breast cancer 5-year survival 77%
- Gleason 6 prostate cancer 20-year metastasis-free survival 90%
- Inflammatory breast cancer 5-year survival 41%
- High-risk prostate cancer post-RP 10-year survival 88%
- Male breast cancer 5-year survival 88.9%
- Metastatic prostate cancer median survival 42 months with novel agents
- Stage I breast cancer 10-year survival 88-98%
- Black men prostate cancer 5-year survival 78% vs 92% white
- ER+ breast cancer survival improved 34% 2000-2020
- Node-positive breast cancer 5-year survival 86%
- Prostate cancer active surveillance 10-year metastasis rate 12%
- De novo metastatic breast cancer median OS 31 months
- Gleason 8-10 prostate cancer 5-year survival 28% distant stage
- Postmenopausal breast cancer survival 93% early stage
- PSADT <3 months prostate cancer predicts 24-month survival 20%
- BRCA2 mutated breast cancer 5-year survival 80%
- Oligometastatic prostate cancer 5-year survival 60% with metastasis-directed therapy
- Luminal A breast cancer 97% 5-year survival
- 20-year prostate cancer survival 80% for intermediate risk
- Recurrent breast cancer 5-year survival 25% if distant
- Visceral metastasis breast cancer OS 15 months
- Low-volume mHSPC prostate cancer 5-year survival 80% with ADT+docetaxel
Survival and Prognosis Interpretation
While both journeys are formidable, prostate cancer often allows for a long road with excellent early navigation, whereas breast cancer demands a more urgent and varied campaign against an opponent that can be relentlessly aggressive even from a strong initial position.
Treatment and Outcomes
- Active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer avoids treatment in 50% at 5 years
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves breast cancer pCR rate to 50% in HER2+
- Radical prostatectomy 10-year biochemical recurrence-free survival 75% for low-risk
- Radiation therapy after lumpectomy reduces breast recurrence to 0.5-1% yearly
- ADT plus radiation improves prostate cancer survival by 12% at 15 years
- Trastuzumab reduces breast cancer recurrence by 50% in HER2+ patients
- Brachytherapy for prostate cancer has 90% 5-year freedom from progression
- Endocrine therapy reduces breast cancer mortality by 30% in ER+
- SBRT for prostate cancer achieves 95% 5-year biochemical control
- Mastectomy recurrence rate is 5-10% at 10 years for early breast cancer
- Enzalutamide extends prostate cancer survival 4.8 months in mCRPC
- CDK4/6 inhibitors plus ET improve PFS to 25 months in HR+ breast cancer
- HIFU for prostate cancer has 80% cancer-free rate at 5 years focal therapy
- Neoadjuvant pertuzumab boosts pCR to 61.6% in HER2+ breast cancer
- Salvage prostatectomy success 60% for biochemical recurrence after RT
- Abemaciclib reduces breast cancer recurrence risk 30% in high-risk HR+
- Proton therapy for prostate cancer has 99% 5-year survival low toxicity
- Bilateral mastectomy reduces contralateral breast cancer risk 90-95%
- Apalutamide delays metastasis by 2 years in nmCRPC prostate cancer
- Pembrolizumab improves OS 13% in triple-negative breast cancer PD-L1+
- Cryotherapy for prostate cancer 90% success in low-risk at 3 years
- Accelerated partial breast irradiation 98% local control at 5 years
- Darolutamide improves MFS 59% HR in nmCRPC prostate cancer
- Sacituzumab govitecan OS 12.1 months in pretreated TNBC
- Focal laser ablation prostate cancer 89% success at 1 year
- Hypofractionated RT breast cancer non-inferior DFS 88.3% vs 87.7%
- Olaparib PFS 7 months in BRCA+ mCRPC prostate cancer
- T-DM1 OS 30.9 months in residual HER2+ breast cancer
Treatment and Outcomes Interpretation
The good news from both the urology and oncology departments is that our armamentarium against both prostate and breast cancer now boasts an impressive array of precisely targeted tools, offering patients more effective and personalized strategies than ever before.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CANCERcancer.orgVisit source
- Reference 2SEERseer.cancer.govVisit source
- Reference 3WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 4CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 5PUBMEDpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 6KOMENkomen.orgVisit source
- Reference 7GISgis.cdc.govVisit source
- Reference 8GCOgco.iarc.frVisit source
- Reference 9CANCERcancer.govVisit source
- Reference 10ECISecis.jrc.ec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 11AIHWaihw.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 12CANCERRESEARCHUKcancerresearchuk.orgVisit source
- Reference 13BCRFbcrf.orgVisit source
- Reference 14FDAfda.govVisit source
- Reference 15NHLBInhlbi.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 16PCFApcfa.org.auVisit source
- Reference 17AUANETauanet.orgVisit source
- Reference 18USPREVENTIVESERVICESTASKFORCEuspreventiveservicestaskforce.orgVisit source
- Reference 19ACRacr.orgVisit source
- Reference 20ACOGacog.orgVisit source
- Reference 21NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 22BCRISKTOOLbcrisktool.cancer.govVisit source
- Reference 23EMBRACEREGISTRYembraceregistry.orgVisit source
- Reference 24NEJMnejm.orgVisit source