Epidemiology of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is currently one of the most common malignancies worldwide. The incidence of prostate cancer has risen dramatically over the last decade, more so than can be explained by increasing longevity. Mortality rates have also risen, though not as dramatically. There is a wide geographic variation in the incidence of clinical prostate cancer, with higher rates in the United States than in China. One risk factor which could explain this variation is the high fat intake associated with a Western diet. It is also apparent that prostate cancer is now being detected at less advanced stages than in the past. Increased awareness of the disease and improved detection methods are thought to contribute to this earlier detection.