About Prostate Cancer

What are Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer?

There are many factors that may affect your risk of developing prostate cancer. Some of these are discussed below.

Age

  • Age is the main risk factor for prostate cancer1
  • A majority of men with prostate cancer in the US (about 64%) are 65 years of age or older2
  • Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than age 451

Family History

  • In recent genetic studies, 5%-10% of prostate cancers have been suggested to run in families2

Race

  • Prostate cancer is most common in African American men1

Diet

  • Some studies suggest that men who eat a lot of meat or animal fat may have a higher risk for prostate cancer. Some studies suggest that men who eat a lot of fruits and vegetables may have a lower risk1

Obesity

  • Studies on weight gain have inconsistent findings. However, one large recent study published in 2007 found that obesity increased the risk of dying from prostate cancer, but did not increase the risk of getting prostate cancer3

Vasectomy

  • Most studies have not found an increased risk of prostate cancer for men who have had a vasectomy. A vasectomy is an operation to cut or tie off the two tubes that carry sperm out of the testicles1

References

  1. National Cancer Institute. What You Need To Know About™ Prostate Cancer. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/prostate. Accessed January 2, 2008.
  2. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2008. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/STT/content/
    STT_1x_Cancer_Facts_and_Figures_2008.asp    . Accessed April 14, 2008.
  3. Wright ME, Chang SC, Schatzkin A, Albanes D, Kipnis V, Mouw T, Hurwitz P, Hollenbeck A, Leitzmann MF. Prospective study of adiposity and weight change in relation to prostate cancer incidence and mortality. Cancer. 2007;109(4):675-84.