On Thursday, OJ Simpson, 76, lost his battle with cancer. Although the previous football star became infamous for the murder trial he faced within the Nineteen Nineties, in recent times, he had been photographed looking frail or walking with a cane.
In February, it was reported that Simpson had prostate cancer. Although his family has not confirmed it, prostate cancer continues to be widely reported because the reason behind death.
Prostate cancer is the second commonest type of male cancer after to skin cancer. Typically the disease doesn’t kill people — partially since it typically grows slowly, the cancer is commonly low-grade and plenty of treatment options can be found, in keeping with the American Cancer Society (ACS). But in some cases, it may well be deadly.
Here’s what to find out about such a cancer and the way it could have potentially contributed to Simpson’s death.
Is prostate cancer curable?
When the cancer is localized to the prostate, often, it’s curable, reports the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The ACS estimates that almost 300,000 men can be diagnosed with such a cancer within the 12 months 2024 — but only around 35,250 will die from the disease. Put one other way, the five-year survival rate of prostate cancer, when it’s detected early, is over 99% in keeping with the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Between 1993 – 2013, the death rate for prostate cancer was cut in half, regarded as as a consequence of advances in screening and higher treatments, in keeping with the ACS. But in recent times, that number has stabilized, suggesting that more cancers are being caught in late stages.
Still, an estimated 3.3 million men who had prostate cancer in some unspecified time in the future of their lives are still living today.
Treatment for prostate cancer includes numerous options, depending on the precise diagnosis. Patients may undergo surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation or targeted drug therapy. For many individuals, certainly one of these treatments will work. An estimated 1 in 8 men can be diagnosed with prostate cancer, but just one in 39 (or 2.6%) men will die from it, in keeping with the NIH.
Signs prostate cancer is deadly
As with most varieties of cancer, certain groups are more in danger for getting prostate cancer. The typical age of diagnosis is 67, and prostate cancer is taken into account rare in men who’re under 40. African American men and Caribbean men of African ancestry are also more in danger for the disease.
Other risk aspects for the disease include obesity, family history of cancer, plus aspects like hypertension, lack of exercise and being taller than average, in keeping with the NIH.
If prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body (if it metastasizes), it may well turn out to be deadly. When it spreads, prostate cancer commonly moves to the bones, lungs, lymph nodes, liver or brain. It’s not known whether Simpson’s cancer had metastasized.
In accordance with a study from 2021, though, about 1 in 6 deaths of individuals living with prostate cancer didn’t die from the cancer itself. Those living with cancer may be more liable to other health issues, or may have already got one other health issue, like heart problems. Other common causes of death in individuals with prostate cancer include COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and things like stroke or aneurysm.
Within the US, African American men are twice as prone to die of prostate cancer in comparison with other groups, in keeping with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nonetheless, the CDC notes, that stat could have more to do with health inequities — a study from 2020 suggested that if health care access were equal, the mortality rate might actually be barely lower for African American men.
The NIH also notes that diets high in saturated fat and milk products may contribute to causing the cancer, and will increase the danger of reoccurrence once diagnosed.
Currently, there may be no standard test to screen for prostate cancer. A physician may draw blood for a prostate specific antigen test (PSA), or may perform a rectal exam, but each of all these screenings require follow-ups before a diagnosis can be made. In 2018, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advisable that men who’re 55 to 69 should make a person decision about whether or not they ought to be screened based on a discussion with their doctors. Men over the age of 70 mustn’t be routinely screened.
On Thursday, OJ Simpson, 76, lost his battle with cancer. Although the previous football star became infamous for the murder trial he faced within the Nineteen Nineties, in recent times, he had been photographed looking frail or walking with a cane.
In February, it was reported that Simpson had prostate cancer. Although his family has not confirmed it, prostate cancer continues to be widely reported because the reason behind death.
Prostate cancer is the second commonest type of male cancer after to skin cancer. Typically the disease doesn’t kill people — partially since it typically grows slowly, the cancer is commonly low-grade and plenty of treatment options can be found, in keeping with the American Cancer Society (ACS). But in some cases, it may well be deadly.
Here’s what to find out about such a cancer and the way it could have potentially contributed to Simpson’s death.
Is prostate cancer curable?
When the cancer is localized to the prostate, often, it’s curable, reports the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The ACS estimates that almost 300,000 men can be diagnosed with such a cancer within the 12 months 2024 — but only around 35,250 will die from the disease. Put one other way, the five-year survival rate of prostate cancer, when it’s detected early, is over 99% in keeping with the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Between 1993 – 2013, the death rate for prostate cancer was cut in half, regarded as as a consequence of advances in screening and higher treatments, in keeping with the ACS. But in recent times, that number has stabilized, suggesting that more cancers are being caught in late stages.
Still, an estimated 3.3 million men who had prostate cancer in some unspecified time in the future of their lives are still living today.
Treatment for prostate cancer includes numerous options, depending on the precise diagnosis. Patients may undergo surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation or targeted drug therapy. For many individuals, certainly one of these treatments will work. An estimated 1 in 8 men can be diagnosed with prostate cancer, but just one in 39 (or 2.6%) men will die from it, in keeping with the NIH.
Signs prostate cancer is deadly
As with most varieties of cancer, certain groups are more in danger for getting prostate cancer. The typical age of diagnosis is 67, and prostate cancer is taken into account rare in men who’re under 40. African American men and Caribbean men of African ancestry are also more in danger for the disease.
Other risk aspects for the disease include obesity, family history of cancer, plus aspects like hypertension, lack of exercise and being taller than average, in keeping with the NIH.
If prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body (if it metastasizes), it may well turn out to be deadly. When it spreads, prostate cancer commonly moves to the bones, lungs, lymph nodes, liver or brain. It’s not known whether Simpson’s cancer had metastasized.
In accordance with a study from 2021, though, about 1 in 6 deaths of individuals living with prostate cancer didn’t die from the cancer itself. Those living with cancer may be more liable to other health issues, or may have already got one other health issue, like heart problems. Other common causes of death in individuals with prostate cancer include COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and things like stroke or aneurysm.
Within the US, African American men are twice as prone to die of prostate cancer in comparison with other groups, in keeping with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nonetheless, the CDC notes, that stat could have more to do with health inequities — a study from 2020 suggested that if health care access were equal, the mortality rate might actually be barely lower for African American men.
The NIH also notes that diets high in saturated fat and milk products may contribute to causing the cancer, and will increase the danger of reoccurrence once diagnosed.
Currently, there may be no standard test to screen for prostate cancer. A physician may draw blood for a prostate specific antigen test (PSA), or may perform a rectal exam, but each of all these screenings require follow-ups before a diagnosis can be made. In 2018, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advisable that men who’re 55 to 69 should make a person decision about whether or not they ought to be screened based on a discussion with their doctors. Men over the age of 70 mustn’t be routinely screened.
