On September 2, 2025, the American Cancer Society (ACS) released its Prostate Cancer Statistics, 2025 report, and the findings are urgent. Late-stage diagnoses are rising. Mortality decline is slowing. And Black and Native American men continue to face disproportionately high death rates. This is precisely why TheBrightPath Foundation exists.
The Numbers at a Glance
What the Report Found
After a decade of declining incidence, prostate cancer is on the rise again. Incidence rates dropped 6.4% per year from 2007 to 2014, but that trend has reversed, climbing 3.0% annually from 2014 through 2021. The sharpest increase (4.6% to 4.8% per year) is in advanced-stage diagnoses, meaning more men are being found at a point where the disease is harder to treat.
Simultaneously, mortality decline has slowed dramatically, from 3% to 4% per year in the 1990s and 2000s to just 0.6% per year over the most recent decade. This is a signal that early detection efforts must be intensified.
"Our research highlighting the continued increases in prostate cancer incidence and persistent racial disparities underscores the need for redoubled efforts to understand the etiology of prostate cancer and optimize early detection. At age 50, all men should have a conversation with their healthcare provider about the benefits and harms of screening, but Black men and those with a family history of prostate cancer should have that conversation at age 45."
Alarming Racial Disparities
The 2025 report makes the disparity picture undeniably clear. These are not just statistics; they represent real men, real families, and real communities that deserve better.
- Black men face 2× the mortality rate of White men from prostate cancer, despite "only" 67% higher incidence. This means they are diagnosed and dying at disproportionate rates even when accounting for how common the disease is.
- Native American men have 12% higher prostate cancer mortality than White men despite 13% lower incidence, a stark sign of systemic barriers to care and follow-through.
- American Indian and Alaska Native men are the most likely to be diagnosed with distant-stage disease (12% vs. 8% among White men).
- Prostate cancer mortality rates by race: Black men: 36.9 per 100,000 · American Indian/Alaska Native: 20.6 · White: 18.4 · Hispanic: 15.4 · Asian American/Pacific Islander: 8.8.
- The highest death rates by state are in Washington D.C. (27.5 per 100,000) and Mississippi (24.8 per 100,000), both with large Black populations.
"Our report underscores the need to redouble efforts to optimize early diagnosis that minimizes overdetection and to also ensure those strategies reach Black and Native American communities in particular. All men should have the same opportunity to survive this common cancer."
The Growing Threat of Late-Stage Diagnoses
The report found that distant-stage disease is increasing in men of every age group:
Nearly 3% per year for men younger than 55 · 6% per year for men aged 55 and older.
The 5-year survival rate for distant-stage prostate cancer is only 38% compared to approaching 100% for earlier-stage diagnoses. This is why early detection and screening conversations are critical.
What This Means for TheBrightPath Community
This report is not just a set of numbers, it is a call to action that aligns directly with why TheBrightPath Foundation was founded. Our programs are built around the belief that lifestyle change, community support, and education can reduce risk and improve outcomes for men, especially those in underserved communities.
What you can do today: Talk to your doctor about PSA screening at the right age for you (45 if you are Black or have a family history, 50 for all other men). Get active. Eat to reduce inflammation. Join a community of men who understand what you are going through.
We encourage every member of our community and every man who finds this page to share this report with the men in their lives.
📄 Source & Attribution
This article summarizes findings from the official American Cancer Society press release published September 2, 2025. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
TheBrightPath Foundation does not reproduce the full report. We encourage you to visit the American Cancer Society directly to read the complete findings and access all related resources.
Related Resources on Our Site
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