Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in North American men (other than skin cancer), and is the second leading cause of cancer death in men after lung cancer. Both the number of new cases of prostate cancer and the number of deaths due to prostate cancer have decreased in the past decade.

Anything that increases a person's chance of developing a disease is called a risk factor. Some of these risk factors for prostate cancer are:

• Age - Prostate cancer is rarely seen in men younger than 50 years old. The chance of developing prostate cancer increases as men get older.
• PSA - For this test, a blood sample is drawn and the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) present is determined in a laboratory. PSA is a marker that, if present in higher than average amounts, may indicate prostate cancer cells. However, PSA levels may also be higher in men who have noncancerous prostate conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis.
• Digital Rectal Examination - A digital rectal examination (DRE) is performed by a doctor during a regular office visit. For this examination, the doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum and feels the prostate gland through the rectal wall to check for bumps or abnormal areas. Although this test has been used for many years, whether DRE is effective in decreasing the number of deaths from prostate cancer has not been determined.
• Biopsy - A tissue sample of the prostate is taken and tested for cancer cells.

Transrectal Ultrasonography - During this examination, high-frequency sound waves are sent out by a probe about the size of the index finger, which is inserted into the rectum. The waves bounce off the prostate gland and produce echoes that a computer uses to create a picture called a sonogram. Doctors examine the sonogram for echoes that might represent abnormal areas. Whether ultrasonography is effective in decreasing the risk of dying from prostate cancer has not been determined.

Prostate Cancer Risk Predictions
Predictions are based on your prognostic factors. These are characteristics that are used to calculate your predictions.The factors are: age, PSA, digital rectal exam, and results, if any, of previous prostate biopsies.

Prediction Method
An advanced statistical method called artificial neural network regression (ANN) will be used to make your predictions. Your factors will be entered into the artificial neural network model. The model will use this information to predict your chance of being alive over the next five years.