As Wisconsin ranks '41st in country' for prostate cancer survival, local doctors stress importance of screening

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- After former President Joe Biden was recently diagnosed with an "aggressive" form of prostate cancer, Wisconsin doctors are speaking out about the disease that affects one out of every eight men.

The American Cancer Society estimates more than 313,000 new cases will be diagnosed in the United States alone this year, with more than 35,000 men dying from the disease.

"So prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, and it's the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in men in the U.S.," said Dr. Joshua Lang, a professor of medicine for the University of Wisconsin's Carbone Cancer Center. "So, unfortunately, it's a very common disease that we're right on the front lines of facing for our patients."

Dr. Lang said Wisconsin ranks 41st in the country for prostate cancer survival.

"Prostate cancer is certainly something that can be detected earlier, and that's where PSA screening really can have an important role," Dr. Lang said. "The two most common places the prostate cancer can spread to are lymph nodes and bone."

Officials said they recommend screening for men ages 50 to 65 every one to two years.

"The biggest risk factor for developing prostate cancer is simply getting older, as a man," said Dr. Shannon Offerman, the medical director for the Sherman Cancer Clinic at Elmbrook Memorial Hospital. 

While there is currently no cure, there are different hormonal and combination therapies, as well as treatments and new clinical trials for those affected.

"We may not be able to get rid of this, but we can treat this," Dr. Offerman said. "Many guys will be able to go on and live their lives for sometimes a number of years with very good quality of life."