Risk factors
Knowing the risk factors may help to prevent or delay the onset of prostate cancer. In addition, knowledge about risk factors may also help one undergo early screening. The risk factors identified to cause prostate cancer include:
- Age. As one gets old, the chances of having prostate cancer increase. It is recommended that after age 50, men should have regular prostate evaluation.
- Ethnicity. Of all ethnic groups, blacks have the highest risk of prostate cancer.
- Hereditary. If anyone in the family has prostate cancer, the chance of a family member developing the cancer are greatly increased
- Nutrition. A high-fat diet and obesity have been associated with an increase in prostate cancer. It is believed that fat stores are important for production of testosterone, and thus reduction in a fatty diet may reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.
- Vasectomy: Although it has been suggested that vasectomy may be a risk factor for prostate cancer, there is no conclusive evidence to substantiate this fact.
- High levels of testosterone. Men who have high levels of testosterone are at high risk for prostate cancer. Long term testosterone treatment has been linked to benign prostate hypertrophy and there is a concern that these individuals should undergo regular screening for prostate cancer.
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