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Risk Factors

• Age. The older a man is, the greater his risk for getting prostate cancer.¹



• Family history. A man with a father, brother, or son who has had prostate cancer is two to three times more likely to develop the disease himself.¹



• Race. Prostate cancer is more common in some racial and ethnic groups than in others, but medical experts do not know why. Prostate cancer is more common among African American men than among white men. It is less common among Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native American men.¹

Researchers are trying to determine the causes of prostate cancer and whether it can be prevented. They do not yet agree on the factors that can influence a man's risk of developing the disease. Some of the factors under study include^{1 2 3}

• Herbal supplements.
• Lycopene (an antioxidant abundant in red tomatoes and processed tomato products).
• Diets high in animal fat or low in fruits and vegetables.
• Vitamin E and selenium.
• Men's hormone levels.
• Environmental agents (pesticide residues on foods, and industrial and occupational exposures).
• Physical inactivity.
• Overweight and obesity.

For more information, please see Prostate Cancer Screening: A Decision Guide.

References

1. Bostwick DG, Burke HB, Djakiew D, Euling S, Ho S, Landolph J, et al. Human prostate cancer risk factors. Cancer 2004;101(10 Suppl):2371–2490.



2. Vainio H, Bianchini F, eds. IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention, Vol 6: Weight Control and Physical Activity. Lyon, France: IARC Press; 2002.



3. Curry S, Byers T, Hewitt M, eds. Fulfilling the Potential of Cancer Prevention and Early Detection. Washington, DC: Institute of Medicine; 2003.