Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer

List of Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer

The list of risk factors mentioned for Prostate Cancer in various sources includes:

• Age - usually men over 55, average age of 70
• Family history of prostate cancer
• Race - more common in African Americans than Caucasians.
• Diet
  • High-animal-fat diet
  • Poor diet
• Vasectomy - not all studies agree that this does increase the risk of prostate cancer.

Risk factors discussion:

What You Need To Know About Cancer -- An Overview: NCI (Excerpt)

Smoking may also increase the likelihood of developing cancers of the stomach, liver, prostate, colon, and rectum. The risk of cancer begins to decrease soon after a smoker quits, and the risk continues to decline gradually each year after quitting. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Cancer -- An Overview: NCI)

What You Need To Know About Cancer -- An Overview: NCI (Excerpt)

Some evidence suggests a link between a high-fat diet and certain cancers, such as cancers of the colon, uterus, and prostate. Being seriously overweight may be linked to breast cancer among older women and to cancers of the prostate, pancreas, uterus, colon, and ovary. On the other hand, some studies suggest that foods containing fiber and certain nutrients may help protect against some types of cancer. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Cancer -- An Overview: NCI)

What You Need To Know About Prostate Cancer: NCI (Excerpt)

Studies have found that the following risk factors are associated with prostate cancer:

• Age. In the United States, prostate cancer is found mainly in men over age 55. The average age of patients at the time of diagnosis is 70.

• Family history of prostate cancer. A man's risk for developing prostate cancer is higher if his father or brother has had the disease.

• Race. This disease is much more common in African American men than in white men. It is less common in Asian and American Indian men.

• Diet and dietary factors. Some evidence suggests that a diet high in animal fat may increase the risk of prostate cancer and a diet high in fruits and vegetables may decrease the risk. Studies are in progress to learn whether men can reduce their risk of prostate cancer by taking certain dietary supplements.

Although a few studies suggested that having a vasectomy might increase a man's risk for prostate cancer, most studies do not support this finding. Scientists have studied whether benign prostatic hyperplasia, obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, radiation exposure, or a sexually transmitted virus might increase the risk for prostate cancer. At this time, there is little evidence that these factors contribute to an increased risk. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Prostate Cancer: NCI)

Risks factors for Prostate Cancer: medical news summaries:

The following medical news items are relevant to risk factors for Prostate Cancer:

• Avocado constituents may fight prostate cancer cell growth
• Cancer deaths take over deaths caused by heart disease
• Cancer risk decreased with Vitamin D
• Chemical used in manufacture of some plastics may promote prostate cancer growth
• Colorectal cancer risk reduced in women through calcium consumption
• Death from Prostate cancer prevented with screening
• Erectile dysfunction is often a symptom of other bigger problems
• Fairfield County Weekly
• Government advisors advise of possible link between prostate cancer and pesticides
• HRT may help men with prostate cancer without the negative side effects
• Improvement in monitoring prostate cancer
• Increase in cancer diagnosis
• Indian spice prevents cancer
• Kidney stone risk increased by obesity
• New Dietary Guidelines support numerous research results
• New prostate cancer marker encouraging
• Overweight men risk having their prostate cancer misdiagnosed
• Pregnancy diet could increase the risk of cancer in offspring
• Prostate cancer active surveillance
• Prostate cancer incidence increasing in Nigerian men
• Prostate cancer often caused by lack of exposure to natural sunlight
• Prostate cancer recurrence linked to obesity
• Prostate cancer risk reduced in diabetics
• Prostate cancer risk reduced in patients with long term diabetes
• Prostate cancer screening dilemma
• Prostate cancer victims need more focus on osteoporosis prevention
• PSA tests not clear on prostate cancer risk
• Researchers examine relationship between prostate cancer and high cholesterol
• Soy health benefits for your prostate
• Soy, vitamin E and folate are essential for prevention of certain cancers
• Studies increasingly pointing to diet as a culprit for cancer
• Triple test proposed for prostate cancer screening
• Weighty issue for men
• Weighty issue with prostate cancer
• More news »

About risk factors:

Risk factors for Prostate Cancer are factors that do not seem to be a direct cause of the disease, but seem to be associated in some way. Having a risk factor for Prostate Cancer makes the chances of getting a condition higher but does not always lead to Prostate Cancer. Also, the absence of any risk factors or having a protective factor does not necessarily guard you against getting Prostate Cancer. For general information and a list of risk factors, see the risk center.

Search Specialists by State and City