Prostate cancer occurs in a tiny walnut-shaped gland called the prostate which produces the seminal fluid responsible for nourishing and transporting sperms. This type of cancer is slow-progressing and stays confined to the gland in the early stages.

The truth is all men are at risk of getting prostate cancer. Reports state that 1 out of every 9 men will be diagnosed with it, but only 1 out of 39 will succumb to it. Almost 80% of men in their 80s are likely to have prostate cancer cells. This is why proper knowledge of prostate cancer risk factors can go a long way in preventing it.

What do risk factors for cancer mean?

A cancer risk factor refers to anything which is capable of increasing your chances of having cancer. Such factors are not responsible for the condition by themselves but their presence, along with certain other factors make an individual more likely to develop cancer. The presence of risk factors does not mean a person is sure to have cancer; there are people who can have risk factors but not suffer from the condition. Similarly, there are people who have no known risk factor and yet get cancer.

What are some prostate cancer risk factors ?

These are some of the common prostate cancer risk factors which may make a person more vulnerable to the condition:

• Age: The risks of developing prostate cancer will increase as one grows older, particularly when a man has crossed the age of 50. Studies show that almost 80% of prostate cancer cases have been diagnosed in males above 65 years of age.
• Race : It has been seen that the incidence of prostate cancer in men of African-American descent is higher than in Caucasian men. African males can develop this condition at a much earlier age and they usually have more aggressive tumors. There may be genetic and socio-economic factors responsible for this but exact causes are not known. Japanese and African men residing in their native countries have low rates of prostate cancer. But their numbers rise when these men relocate. This difference in numbers could well be related to factors like high-fat diets, limited exposure to the sun, smoking, etc.
• Family history: Another factor to remember is that if a man has family members affected by prostate cancer, then they are also at risk of getting it. This is called familial prostate cancer and it happens in about 20% cases. It may be due to shared genes, lifestyle habits, and a shared environment. Those who have prostate cancer in their families should start screening as early as 40 years old as the risk factor is higher.
• Geography: Studies show that prostate cancer mostly occurs in males living in northern Europe and North America. This type of cancer is also common amongst Asians working in cities like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Europe, especially in men with lifestyles involving limited physical activity and a poor diet.
• Genes: There are certain genes which can also be risk factors for developing prostate cancers like HPC1 and HPC2, HPCX, ATM, CAPB, and FANCA. Till date, there is no evidence to suggest that any of these directly causes prostate cancer but research is ongoing. Researchers are trying to understand how specific changes in genes can influence the growth of this cancer.