Prostate Cancer Risk Factors
Age and prostate cancer
The majority of men with prostate cancer are aged over 60 years and the disease is very rare in men under 50.
Family history and prostate cancer
Men with a brother or father who developed prostate cancer at a young age have an increased risk. Men with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer also have an increased risk. Scientists at the Everyman Centre have discovered more than 10 areas of the genome associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. These genetic alterations can be inherited. Our researchers are working to develop a test which may lead to targeted screening for men with a family history of prostate cancer.
Race and prostate cancer
Men of African descent are 60 per cent more likely to develop prostate cancer than the non-African population.
Men living in some Asian countries are about 10 times less likely to develop prostate cancer. However that reduced risk does not apply to men of Asian background who live outside of Asia.
Environment and prostate cancer
Possible risk factors include obesity, high fat consumption and low green vegetable consumption as well as exposure to radioactive substances.
In most cases, we simply do not know what causes prostate cancer or how to prevent it. Little is known about the detailed or molecular mechanism of prostate cancer development.
Everyman is carrying out the research to help answer these questions.
