Risk Factors for Prostate CancerMichael Jubinville, MPH A risk factor is something that affects your chance of getting cancer. Some, like smoking, can be changed. Others like genetics cannot. Having risk factors does not mean you will get this cancer. You can also get cancer even without these risks. Talk to you care team about your risks. Things that may increase the risk of prostate cancer include: AgeProstate cancer is rare in men under 40 years old. The risk of prostate cancer rises after age 50. Most occur in men older than 65. Race/ethnicityProstate cancer occurs more often in African-American men and Caribbean men of African ancestry. Prostate cancer occurs less often in Asian-American and Hispanic/Latino men. The reasons for these differences are not clear. GeographyProstate cancer is most common in North America, northwestern Europe, Australia, and on Caribbean islands. It is less common in Asia, Africa, Central America, and South America. The reasons for this are not clear. Lifestyle habits may play a role. Family historyProstate cancer seems to run in some families. This may mean there is a genetic factor. Still, most prostate cancers occur in men without a family history. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk of developing this disease. The risk is higher if a brother has prostate cancer than a father. The more relatives have prostate cancer the higher the risk will be. Gene changesSome gene changes are passed down in families. Certain changes increase the risk of prostate cancer. For example:
Factors With Less Clear Effect on Prostate Cancer Risk
Smoking or obesity has not been found to increase the risk of prostate cancer itself. However, they are linked to a higher risk of dying from prostate cancer.
References:Prostate cancer. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114483/Prostate-cancer. Updated October 16, 2018. Accessed December 19, 2019. Prostate cancer risk factors. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html. Updated August 1, 2019. Accessed December 19, 2019. What causes prostate cancer? Urology Care Foundation website. Available at: https://www.urologyhealth.org/urologic-conditions/prostate-cancer/causes. Updated August 2018. Accessed December 19, 2019.
9/4/2013 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance.
https://www.dynamed.com/prevention/prostate-cancer-screening: Ansbaugh N, Shannon J, et al. Agent Orange as a risk factor for high-grade prostate cancer. Cancer. 2013;119(13):2399-2404.
Last reviewed September 2019 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board Nicole Meregian, PA Last Updated: 12/1/2020 | ||
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