ZERO Prostate Cancer Statement on the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts & Figures Annual Report

Data released by the American Cancer Society (ACS) underscores the urgency of our mission to improve and save lives from prostate cancer. For men, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer — twice as common as lung cancer — and its incidence continues to increase and impact far too many families. 

Thanks to early detection through PSA testing and advances in treatment, patients are living longer, and prostate cancer death rates have dropped by 53 percent from 1993 to 2023. However, alarming disparities persist in diagnosis, access, and outcomes, especially among Black men and other high-risk populations. Black men experience the highest cancer incidence and death rates, largely due to prostate cancer, with mortality rates two to four times higher than those of any other group.

When detected early, prostate cancer is treatable, with a five-year survival rate of 99 percent for cases caught at the earliest stage. Yet awareness, access, and trust remain uneven across communities. As we share these findings, we urge healthcare leaders, policymakers, and community members to work together to close the survival gap, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from early detection, unwavering support, and access to care. 

Last year, ZERO Prostate Cancer launched Blitz the Barriers, the most ambitious initiative in the history of U.S. prostate cancer programs and services — a $20 million effort focused on communities hardest hit by prostate cancer, developing healthcare solutions, and aiming to save 100,000 lives by 2035. With 333,830 new cases of prostate cancer expected in 2026, this work matters more than ever. Every one and a half minutes, a man receives a prostate cancer diagnosis, and a family feels its impact. We will continue fighting for the millions of patients and their families, unlocking access to care, advancing breakthrough treatments, and providing critical support. 

Visit zerocancer.org for additional resources and to get involved.