All men are at risk of prostate cancer; however, some men are at more risk than others.
Some studies have suggested that injury, swelling, and infection of the prostate gland may trigger and increase prostate cancer risk.
The presence of one or more risk factors does not mean that an individual will definitely develop prostate cancer. It’s a good idea, however, to have regular prostate cancer screenings, especially when risk factors are present. Currently, prostate screening is recommended for men with average risk at ages 40-45 years.
Risk factors for prostate cancer
Apart from being male, the current risk factors for prostate cancer may include:
- Age: The risk of prostate cancer increases with age. Cancer is rarely seen in individuals younger than 40-50 years, and nearly 60 percent of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men older than 65 years.
- Race: African American men are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and to die from the disease.
- Family history: Men with a family history of prostate, breast, ovarian, colon, or pancreatic cancer may be at an increased risk of prostate cancer.
- Genetic mutations: Inherited mutations of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene increase the risk of breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer in some families.
- Diet and lifestyle: Studies have indicated that there may be a link between diet and the cause or prevention of prostate cancer. Lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption have been associated with prostate cancer. Obesity has also been linked to the development of the condition. Exposure to certain hazardous substances in the work environment may also increase the risk of prostate cancer.
- Chemical exposure: Exposure to certain chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides may have higher than average rates of prostate cancer. Veterans who were exposed to the defoliant Agent Orange are 49 percent more likely than non-exposed veterans to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
- Firefighters: Recent studies have reported that firefighters are at a 28 percent higher risk of prostate cancer than the general population.
- High testosterone levels: An increase in testosterone levels stimulates the growth of the prostate gland, making some men more susceptible to prostate cancer.
- Vitamin D deficiency: Research shows that men who had vitamin D deficiency had an increased risk of prostate cancer.
IMAGES
Browse through our medical image collection to see illustrations of human anatomy and physiology See ImagesWhat is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is cancer that develops in the prostate (a small walnut-shaped gland in men). It is one of the most common types of cancer among men. Prostate cancer develops when the DNA in a prostate gland cell is injured or mutated. This malignant cell begins to proliferate and form tumors, and, if untreated, prostate cancer may eventually metastasize or spread to other organs.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
The symptoms of prostate cancer may include:
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine
- Urinating often (especially at night)
- Difficulty urinating or holding back urine
- Inability to urinate
- Pain or burning when urinating
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Nagging pain in the back, hips, or pelvis
- Difficulty having an erection
- Unusual and unexplained weight loss
What are the 4 stages of prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer stages:
- Stage I: The cancer is only in the prostate.
- Stage II: The tumor hasn’t spread beyond the prostate, but it is more advanced than Stage I.
- Stage III: The tumor has spread beyond the prostate, but it hasn’t reached the lymph nodes.
- Stage IV: The cancer may have spread to the bladder, rectum, lymph nodes, bones, or other parts of the body.
What are the treatment options for prostate cancer?
Not all prostate cancer requires treatment. Depending on the level of risk and stage of the disease, there are many different approaches to treat prostate cancer.
Common treatment options for prostate cancer may include:
- Active surveillance: This is often recommended for patients with low-grade prostate cancer. Prostate cancer can take a long time to grow. Active surveillance uses the latest imaging technologies to watch it and make sure it is not progressing.
- Surgical treatment options: Surgeons continually integrate innovative approaches into their practice to offer patients safer and more effective treatments. Minimally invasive surgical treatments include laparoscopic surgery and robotic-assisted surgery. Patients may also undergo removal of the prostate through more conventional surgery.
- Brachytherapy (radioactive seed implantation): In this treatment, radioactive seeds are implanted in the prostate to give off radiation and provide localized treatment to the tumor.
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): By targeting intense radiation on prostate tumors, urologists can minimize or even destroy them completely.
- Surgery, radiation, and hormonal therapy: These approaches can cause erectile dysfunction and other complications related to sexual health. However, within two years, most men regain their potency and return to the sex life they had before the treatment.
Top What Are the Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer? Related Articles
Can Prostate Cancer Kill You?
Yes. Like any other cancer, prostate cancer is a potential killer. However, this is true of the metastasized prostate cancer that has remained undiagnosed for a long time. The disease is vastly curable when diagnosed early.How Does a Doctor Diagnose Prostate Cancer?
The prostate gland or prostate is a part of the male reproductive system. It is a small (almost walnut-sized) gland located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum (the last part of the large bowel), surrounding the urethra (the tube carrying urine out of the bladder). The prostate has two main functions: producing and storing fluid that helps make semen and regulating bladder control.How Does Prostate Cancer Kill You in the End?
Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate gland in men. Death from prostate cancer most often happens when cancer has spread (metastasized) to other organs in the body.How Is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?
Prostate cancer is largely a disease of men over 40, so it’s around this age doctors recommend the first prostate screening. The first exam is a blood test to determine if there are abnormal prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels in your blood – PSA is produced by the prostate. If the PSA is high, your doctor will perform a digital rectal exam, during which the doctor feels your prostate from inside your rectum with a gloved finger. Other diagnostic tests include an endoscopic biopsy of tumor tissue for analysis in a lab.
How Quickly Does Prostate Cancer Spread?
Prostate cancer is a cancer that develops in the prostate gland in men and it is one of the most common types of cancer. In some cases, it can take up to eight years to spread from the prostate to other parts of the body (metastasis), typically the bones. In other cases, it may be more aggressive.Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men after skin cancer.
- Risk factors include age, family history, ethnicity, and diet.
- Prostate cancer is diagnosed by a digital rectal exam, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, and prostate biopsy.
- Symptoms may include
- frequent need to urinate,
- incontinence, pain,
- blood in the urine,
- fatigue, and more.
- Prognosis and treatment depend on cancer staging.
- Watchful waiting,
- surgery,
- radiation,
- cryotherapy, and
- other management strategies are available.
- Research and clinical trials strive to find new and better treatments for prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer Quiz
Is prostate cancer the most common cancer in men? Take this prostate cancer quiz to find out and learn the causes, symptoms, and treatments of this disease.Prostate Cancer Facts
Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer and cancer death in males; in some men, identifying it early may prevent or delay metastasis and death from prostate cancer.
- The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland that is a part of the male reproductive system that wraps around the male urethra at it exits the bladder.
- Prostate cancer is common in men over 50 years of age, with the risk of developing prostate cancer increases with aging.
Signs of Prostate Cancer: Symptoms, PSA Test, Treatments
What is prostate cancer? Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. Learn the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer, along with causes and treatments. Know the stages, survival rates and how to lower your risk of prostate cancer.Things That May Slow Prostate Cancer Progression
Studies are ongoing, but are there certain foods and healthy practices that can slow the growth of tumors in the prostate? Learn what could help with this WebMD slideshow.Prostate Cancer Staging and Survival Rates
The prognosis for prostate cancer, as with any cancer, depends on how advanced the cancer has become, according to established stage designations. The patient's PSA score at diagnosis, as well as their Gleason score (the grading system used to determine the aggressiveness of prostate cancer) determines the prognosis and final stage designation. Prostate cancer has a high survival rate in general, but your chances depend on the stage of the cancer.
What Are the Five Stages of Prostate Cancer?
The Gleason grading system grades prostate cancer from 1 to 5. According to cells’ appearances under a microscope, this system grades the most common (primary) and second most common (secondary) patterns of cells in a tissue sample collected via biopsy.What Foods Kill Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer refers to the uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate gland. There is no particular food or recipe that can directly kill prostate cancer cells. Some foods that may be helpful in prostate cancer recovery and relapse prevention include foods containing lycopene, beans, green tea, cruciferous vegetables and fruit like cranberries, strawberries, blueberries and pomegranates.