Cancer: What Causes Prostrate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is ranked fifth among the most common cancers worldwide. It accounts for almost one-third of all cancers in men, with more than 180,000 new cases every year. The most important risk factors of prostate cancer include age, race, family history and diet.

Function
The exact cause of prostate cancer has not been identified. However, several risk factors are known to increase the risk of prostate cancer. Family history is a major risk factor. If you have a family member (e.g. father, son, brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer, your risk of developing prostate cancer is increased by 2.5 times in comparison to the general population. Race/ethnicity is another major risk factor. It is well established that African-American men are at elevated risk for prostate cancer. Asian men are least likely to develop prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is also more likely to occur in older men. The average age of diagnosis for prostate cancer is 69. Diet also affects the risk of prostate cancer, as a diet containing a lot of animal fat tends to increase the risk of prostate cancer.

Significance
About 30,000 men die of prostate cancer every year in the United States. Almost all patients diagnosed with prostate cancers live more than 5 years after diagnosis and 75 percent of them live more than 15 years.

Geography
The rate of prostate cancer varies significantly between different countries. United States has the highest rate of prostate cancer in the world. Asian countries, such as Vietnam, China and Thailand, report the lowest rates of prostate cancer.

History
The rate of prostate cancer in the United States doubled in the past 20 years. This can be explained by the introduction of prostate cancer screening based on PSA testing, which detects a high level of prostate specific antigen and enables early detection of prostate cancer.

Prevention/Solution
Studies showed that use of selenium, vitamins E and D, lycopene, green tea and soy foods can lower the risk of prostate cancer. Several studies suggested that high frequency of ejaculation is associated with lower risk of prostate cancer.