Health Wellness

Causes of Prostate Cancer

The cause of prostate cancer is unknown, but hormonal, genetic, environmental, and dietary factors are thought to play roles. According to the American Cancer Society there are Several factors, that may increase the risk of a man developing prostate cancer.

Age:

There is a strong correlation between increasing age and developing prostate cancer. The incidence of prostate cancer increases steadily from fewer than 1 in 100,000 for men aged 40 years to 1146 per 100,000 in men aged 85 years. The median age at diagnosis of prostate cancer is 70.5 years. More than 80% of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men older than 65 years. Autopsy records indicate that 70% of men older than 90 years have at least one region of cancer in their prostate.

Race:

African American men are 1.5-2 times more likely than white men to develop prostate cancer. African American men also appear to develop prostate cancer at an earlier age. Prostate cancer occurs less often in Asian men than in whites.

Genetic factors:

Men who have a history of prostate cancer in their family, especially if it was a first-degree relative such as a father or brother, are at an increased risk. This risk may be 2-3 times greater than the risk for men without a family history of the disease.

Diet:

Men who eat a lot of red meat or high-fat dairy products seem to have a greater chance of getting prostate cancer. These men also tend to eat fewer fruits and vegetables. Doctors are not sure which of these factors causes the risk to go up. The best advice is to eat 5 or more servings of vegetables and fruits each day and to eat less red meat and high-fat dairy products.

Chemical agents:

Exposure to chemicals such as cadmium has been implicated in the development of prostate cancer. There is no proven link between frequency of sexual activity and prostate cancer risk.

Exercise:

Although most studies have not shown a link to exercise, one recent study found that men over the age of 65 who exercised vigorously had a lower rate of prostate cancer.

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The American Cancer Society states "some people get cancer because of changes to their DNA. DNA makes up our genes, which control how cells behave. DNA is inherited from our parents. A small percentage (about 5% to 10%) of prostate cancers are linked to such changes. It may also be the case that prostate cancer is linked to higher levels of certain hormones. High levels of male hormones (androgens) may play a part in prostate cancer risk in some men. Also, some researchers have noted that men with high levels of the hormone called IGF-1 are more likely to get prostate cancer. But others have not found such a link. More research is needed in this area".

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