Diminished survival of young blacks with adenocarcinoma of the prostate

The survival rates of 117 black and white patients treated by primary radiation for carcinoma of the prostate at the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn and Kings County Hospital Center were analyzed according to age and race. In addition, stage, grade, and delay time in seeking medical attention were analyzed. Survival was similar in both young (less than 60 years) and old (greater than or equal to 60 years) patients, with 45% and 41% 5-year-survival rates, respectively. Survival was better in white patients, 48% 5-year survival, than in blacks, 35% 5-year survival. Black patients presented with higher stage disease than whites (p less than 0.01). This trend was even greater in young black males, who had higher grade (64% versus 11%; p less than 0.04) and higher stage tumors (p less than 0.05). In addition, young blacks delayed seeking medical attention greater than 3 months 72% of the time, as compared to 0% in white young males (p less than 0.005). A survival difference was also seen in young blacks as compared with young whites: 3.9-year median survival versus 6.0-year median survival, respectively.