Causes
of Prostate Cancer
The cause of prostate cancer is unknown, but hormonal, genetic,
environmental, and dietary factors are thought to play roles. The
following risk factors have been linked with development of this
condition:
- Age: There is a strong correlation
between increasing age and developing prostate cancer. The incidence of
prostate cancer increases steadily from fewer than 1 in 100,000 for men
aged 40 years to 1146 per 100,000 in men aged 85 years. The median age
at diagnosis of prostate cancer is 70.5 years. More than 80% of
prostate cancers are diagnosed in men older than 65 years. Autopsy records
indicate that 70% of men older than 90 years have at least one region of
cancer in their prostate.
- Race: African American men are 1.5-2 times more likely
than white men to develop prostate cancer. African American men also appear to
develop prostate cancer at an earlier age.
- Genetic factors: Men who have a history of prostate
cancer in their family, especially if it was a first-degree relative such as a
father or brother, are at an increased risk. This risk may be 2-3 times
greater than the risk for men without a family history of the disease.
- Diet: A diet high in fat has been associated with an
increased risk of prostate cancer.
- Chemical agents: Exposure to chemicals such as cadmium has been implicated in the development of prostate cancer.
There is no
proven link( relation ) between frequency of sexual activity and prostate cancer risk.
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