Prostate cancer occurs when cells in a man’s prostate gland grow out of control. 

Life expectancy for prostate cancer is estimated in five-year survival rates. This refers to how many people will be alive five years after diagnosis. Once the prostate cancer has reached stage 4 and spread (metastasized) to other organs such as the bones, lungs, or liver, the five-year survival rate drops to below 30%. 

At stage 4 when prostate cancer has spread to the bones, it is unlikely to be cured, but many patients can live several years with effective treatment. There is no way to predict an exact life expectancy after prostate cancer has spread to the bone. Life expectancy depends on the patient and the specific characteristics of his cancer.  

Routine screening tests allow prostate cancer to be detected early, before the cancer has spread to the bone and other organs. When detected early, there are a number of treatment options and a good chance of a cure. 

For men with localized prostate cancer, where there is no sign the cancer has spread outside the prostate, and regional prostate cancer, in which the cancer has spread outside the prostate to nearby structures or lymph nodes only, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100%.