An estimated 1 man every 31 minutes was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year; thus driving an increasing incidence of prostate cancer in the State of Florida. These statistics coupled with significant prostate cancer disparities between rural and urban populations and across ethnic and racial groups are resulting in segments of the Floridian population being under-diagnosed or diagnosed at later stages, receiving different disease management and treatment modalities and, potentially, decreasing their survival expectations.
In spite of this alarming statistic, we know very little about prostate cancer in Florida. We don’t know the full human or financial resource burden of prostate cancer because diagnoses that occur outside of hospitals or treatment centers may not be captured within available data sets. We don’t know how variable the care is or what drives variation. We have limited understanding of socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities and lastly, we don’t know why there are so many Floridian men being diagnosed at later stages or the cost efficacy of the care provided.
With an overarching objective of filling the informational gaps, the Prostate Cancer Advisory Council has developed a tactical strategy to acquire new information through research collaborations, to ensure the information is validated through peer review, and disseminated to patients, family members, advocates, physicians, care providers, researchers, and policy makers through this website (communications platform). The Information For tab on the homepage is designed to provide you with immediate access to information you need to support evidence-based decision making.