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Prostate cancer develops when cells in the prostate gland change. Doctors know that changes in the genetic information (DNA) inside cells can make prostate cells grow abnormally and become cancerous. The medical term for a DNA change is "mutation." It’s not clear exactly why mutations occur. Some DNA mutations cause cells to multiply faster than other cells. And, the more quickly prostate cells grow, the greater the odds that other harmful mutations will occur.
DNA changes can be inherited. That means they're passed down from one generation to the next. These changes account for up to 10% of prostate cancers.
DNA changes also can be acquired. That's the case most of the time. The changes might occur randomly—by chance. Or, other factors—like hormones and inflammation—could also play a role. For instance, high levels of certain male hormones can trigger the growth of prostate cells. This includes high levels of testosterone. Doctors suspect that inflammation in the prostate gland also could lead to DNA damage and mutations that increase the risk of prostate cancer.
Known Risk Factors
Certain things make men more likely to develop prostate cancer. Some of these risk factors can’t be changed:
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Age. Prostate cancer is rare among young men. Your chances of having it increase with age. About 60% of prostate cancers occur in men who are older than 65.
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Race and ethnicity. Prostate cancer affects black men more often than men who are white, Asian or Hispanic. Black men are also more likely to develop aggressive or advanced forms of the disease. Doctors aren't sure why.
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Family history. An increased risk of prostate cancer runs in some families. Men with a father or brother with prostate cancer are twice as likely to develop the disease.
Other risk factors for prostate cancer can be controlled:
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Diet. Scientists are still researching how diet affects a man's odds of getting prostate cancer. Eating lots of red meat and high-fat dairy products seems to slightly increase the risk. But, men who follow that type of diet may also eat fewer fruits and vegetables, which may have a protective effect from cancer. That makes it hard to know which dietary habit is to blame.
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Obesity. Men who are very overweight or obese may have a slightly higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Obese men are also more likely than normal-weight men to develop aggressive or advanced forms of the disease. Specific types of fat cells offer a clue as to why that's the case: Certain fat cells make hormones that trigger cell growth. Doctors suspect that overweight men have more of these cells and that's why they are more likely to develop this cancer.
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Harmful substances. Men who come into contact with toxic materials may increase their risk of developing prostate cancer. These substances might be in their work environment. For example, firefighters might encounter harmful combustion products. That could increase their odds of developing the disease. Some research also suggests pesticides and the chemicals used in making tires and batteries might increase the risk of prostate cancer in men who work with these products.
It’s important to know, though, that risk factors do not cause prostate cancer. You may never develop the disease, even if you have risk factors. By the same token, some people diagnosed with prostate cancer have no known risk factors for it.