African-American men have highest rate of prostate cancer in the U.S.; Discuss the disease with your dad and grandpa this June.

WALTHAM, Mass. -- The statistics cannot be ignored:

--African-American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer in the U.S. (1)

--African-Americans are 1.6 times more likely than caucasians to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and are 2.4 times more likely than caucasians to die from the disease (2)

--A 2000 Roper Starch survey showed that African American men are significantly more likely than white men to experience side effects from prostate cancer treatment, including incontinence. They are also more likely than white men to be dissatisfied with their doctor's support

As Father's Day approaches next month, discuss with your father and grandfather the importance of regular prostate cancer screening, which detects cancer in its early-stages and often results in excellent cure rates. According to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition, nearly 100% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer are still alive in 5 years.

If cancer is diagnosed, patients and their families should consult a urologist and a radiation oncologist to discuss all suitable treatment options. Survival rates for both surgical and radiation therapies are similar, but side-effects differ among the many treatment alternatives.

A study published recently in CANCER, the journal of the American Cancer Society, concluded that prostate cancer patients are not getting the necessary information from their doctors to make an educated treatment decision. Further details of this study are available upon request.

Available: Prostate cancer experts and b-roll

(1) Centers for Disease Control, US Cancer Statistics (2000), Incidence

(2) Cancer Facts & Figures for African-Americans, 2005-2006; American Cancer Society