Prostate Cancer

Risks

Although there is no formula for preventing prostate cancer all the time, certain measures do reduce the risk or possibly slow the disease's progression. The three most important steps to maintain prostate health include eating well, staying physically active and seeing the doctor regularly.

The main risk factors for prostate cancer include:

• Age — As men age, their risk of prostate cancer increases. More than 80 percent of men with a diagnosis of prostate cancer are older than age 65.
• Race or ethnic group — African-American men are more likely to have prostate cancer than men of any other group in the United States. They are also more likely to have cancer at a younger age and to have an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Asian men, on the other hand, have the lowest rate of prostate cancer. The rate of prostate cancer in Hispanic and American Indian men is lower than in white men.
• Family history — Men whose father or brother had prostate cancer have about twice the risk of the average American male. Depending on the number of relatives with prostate cancer and the age at which they had it, the risk may be even higher.
• Diet — A high-fat diet may increase the risk of prostate cancer. Researchers theorize that fat increases production of the hormone testosterone, which in turn speeds development of prostate cancer cells.