In incidence and mortality, prostate cancer is to men what breast cancer is to women. Yet, the disease is not as widely discussed. The City of West Hollywood and its Human Resources Division, in cooperation with the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), are pleased to provide this important information on prostate cancer. In keeping with our mission to foster a healthy community, we encourage you to share the following information with the men in your life.

About Prostate Cancer Contrary to popular belief, prostate cancer is not just an old man’s disease. It can affect men in their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Some prostate cancers begin to form in the prostate when men are in their 20’s. Another misconception is that it is a slow-growing cancer that should not be a cause of concern. With 24 sub-types of prostate cancer recently discovered by PCF-funded researchers at the University of Michigan, we now know that some prostate cancers are non-life-threatening, while others can be very aggressive.

We are nearing a day when we will be able to identify the aggressiveness of a patient’s prostate cancer when it is first diagnosed, and treat it accordingly. This will enable medical professionals to cure more and overtreat less. It will also provide patients with better data when selecting a treatment plan. Today, however, patients can still make informed decisions with a better understanding of the disease.

Prostate Cancer Fact Sheet [PDF]