Unemployment Tied to Higher Prostate Cancer Morbidity Rates

Posted by CancerInformation on June 27th, 2015

Prostate cancer is a largely detectable, largely treatable disease when it is caught in its earliest phases. Many men are diagnosed with the disease at its early onset courtesy of a number of low-tech, affordable screening methods. When it comes to effectiveness of detection, however, unemployment may skew the odds against some men who find themselves unable to seek routine preventative treatment and care.

A new study published in the journal E cancer medical science has found that a one percent increase in unemployment is associated with an increase in prostate cancer mortality. The study is considered one of the very few of its kind to closely examine any ties between economic conditions and a specific health complaint.

To reach their findings, investigators used three different methods – time-trend analysis, fixed-effects regression analysis and data collection. The study involved data on both unemployment and prostate cancer in multiple countries during a near 20-year period. The study ultimately found that unemployment rates are associated with worse prostate cancer outcomes.

While researchers didn’t indicate that unemployment directly led to prostate cancer deaths, the findings point to the need for men of all socioeconomic statuses to receive proper healthcare and screenings. In the United States, an estimated 220,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed annually. An estimated 27,000 men die in the United States from prostate cancer, which is the second most likely form of cancer to strike men.

People who are concerned about prostate cancer and its potential effects are urged to discuss the topic with their healthcare providers. Early screening can lead to a variety of potential treatment options, including recommendations to wait and see in the case of slow progressing forms of the disease. The first step for men is to discuss their risk factors with healthcare professionals to determine what screening, if any, is necessary to monitor for this disease.

About Author:-
Dr. Echt and his team at the Prostate Seed Institute offer the most highly sophisticated methods of radiation therapy available in the United States, equal to that found in major medical center and academic settings. These include prostate seed implantation, high dose radiation implants, and external beam radiation with image-guided and intensity-modulated (IGRT and IMRT) capabilities.