Prostate Cancer Causes

There are no clear causes of prostate cancer. However, several risk factors are believed to have a significant effect in determining who will develop prostate cancer. Primary among these is age. As the average male's age increases, so does his likelihood of developing prostate cancer. Over 80 percent of males diagnosed with prostate cancer are older than 65 years of age. It is suggested that males over the age of 50 be given regular blood tests and medical examinations to check for evidence of prostate cancer.

Ethnicity has also been shown to play a part in determining who will develop prostate cancer. Males of African ancestry are almost two times as likely to develop the cancer than Caucasian males. Further, African-American males develop prostate cancer earlier in life than Caucasian males. Also, males of Asian ancestry are less likely to develop prostate cancer at all.

A family history of prostate cancer is also a powerful indicator for the development of prostate cancer. Males with fathers, uncles, or brothers who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer are at risk for its development. Incidentally, such males can occasionally be two to three times at greater risk than those whose fathers, uncles, or brothers were never diagnosed with the cancer, so it's important to get checked either way.

Diet and even toxin exposure may also play a part in who develops prostate cancer. Males with diets high in animal fat appear to be more susceptible to prostate cancer than males with diets high in fruits and vegetables. Toxins such as cadmium have been shown to increase a male's risk of developing prostate cancer.