Prostate cancer is on the rise again in the United States, reversing a years-long decline. A new report from the American Cancer Society reveals that incidence rates have climbed by 3% annually from 2014 to 2021, after previously dropping by more than 6% each year between 2007 and 2014. The increase is especially pronounced in distant-stage disease, which is harder to treat and more deadly.
Men under 55 saw a 2.6% annual rise in distant-stage diagnoses, while those aged 55 to 69 experienced a 6% increase. For men 70 and older, the rate jumped by 6.2% per year. These trends suggest that more men are being diagnosed at later stages, when treatment options are limited and outcomes are worse.
The disparities are even more stark across racial and ethnic lines. Black men face a 67% higher incidence of prostate cancer compared to White men, and their mortality rate is twice as high. American Indian and Alaska Native men have a 13% lower incidence than White men, but suffer a 12% higher mortality rate. Meanwhile, Hispanic, Asian American, and Pacific Islander men are less likely to be diagnosed with localized disease, which is typically more treatable.
Rebecca L. Siegel, M.P.H., a senior author of the report, emphasized the urgency of improving early diagnosis strategies and ensuring they reach Black and Native American communities, where the burden is greatest.
See: “Prostate Cancer Incidence Trends Increasing” (September 5, 2025)
