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Risk factors
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Some men are more likely than others to develop prostate cancer due to certain risk factors. A risk factor is a condition or characteristic that may increase the chance of developing a disease. In prostate cancer, there are four major risk factors.
• Race
For unknown reasons, prostate cancer is more common in African American men than in white men. In Boston, death rates from prostate cancer for black men are roughly twice that for white men.
• Family History
A man’s risk of prostate cancer increases if his father or brother also had prostate cancer. The risk rises if multiple relatives are afflicted.
• Age
Men typically get prostate cancer later in life. In this country, most men with prostate cancer are older than 65. Black men, however, often are diagnosed in their forties or fifties.
• Diet
Some studies have established a link between prostate cancer and diets high in saturated fats found in red meat and dairy products.
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