Prostate Cancer Causes

Little is known about the causes of prostate cancer. The growth of cancer cells in the prostate, like that of normal prostate cells, is stimulated by male hormones, especially testosterone, which is produced almost entirely by the testes. However, certain risk factors have been identified:

• Age: prostate cancer can occur in younger men but the risk of getting prostate cancer increases with age, with more than 70% of prostate cancers occurring in men over the age of 65 years.
  
  
• Ethnic origin: certain races have a higher chance of developing prostate cancer than others, for example, Afro-Caribbean or African-American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer than Caucasian (white race) men are whereas Asians have a lower incidence.
  
  
• Family history: a family history of prostate cancer increases a man's chances of developing the disease. A man whose father or brother has the disease has double the risk of developing it himself.
  
  
• Diet: fatty foods (especially those high in saturated fat) and red meat may increase the risk, whereas vegetables including tomatoes may decrease the risk.
  
  
• Hormones – men with high testosterone levels e.g. Afro-Caribbean men may have an increased risk, compared to those with a lower average testosterone level e.g. Asian men.