Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate. The prostate is a small gland that is part of the male reproductive system. It is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. All males, and those assigned male at birth, can get prostate cancer.

Excluding skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among males* in New York State. Each year in New York State, almost 18,000 males are diagnosed with prostate cancer and over 1,600 males die of the disease. It is estimated that one in eight males will develop prostate cancer during their life.

Prostate cancer screening can help find cancer early, when it may be easier to treat. However, for some males, the benefits of prostate cancer screening may not outweigh the risks. All males ages 55 to 69 should talk with their health care provider about whether prostate cancer screening is right for them. Males at higher risk for prostate cancer, including Black males and males with a family history of prostate cancer, should talk to their health care provider earlier, starting at age 40 or 45.

Health Equity

Males of all racial and ethnic groups get prostate cancer, but Black males have higher rates of prostate cancer than other racial and ethnic groups. In New York State, Black males are one and a half times more likely to get prostate cancer and almost twice as likely to die of the disease compared to White males. Eliminating disparities starts with educating New Yorkers about prostate cancer and encouraging males to talk to their health care providers about screening.

New York State addresses health equity in the following ways:

• New York State oversees the Peer Education, Outreach, and Shared Decision Making for Persons at High Risk of Prostate Cancer program to help educate and prepare individuals to discuss the benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening with their health care provider.
• Prostate cancer screening is covered at no cost to the patient by nearly all New York State health plans, including those that participate in the New York State of Health and New York's Medicaid program. Health plan coverage may vary. Check with your insurance plan to find out what benefits are covered for prostate cancer screening.

More about prostate cancer:

• Prostate Cancer Screening
• Prostate Cancer Symptoms and Risk Factors
• Additional Prostate Cancer Resources and Data
• The New York State Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program
• Cancer Educational Materials

* Please note that for the purposes of this webpage, the term "male" is used to refer to individuals who were assigned male at birth. In addition, the terms "men" and "male" are used when it is necessary to accurately reflect how data were collected and reported in the original source.