Risk factors
There are several factors that increase the chance of a man being diagnosed with prostate cancer. These include:
Age
The risk of getting prostate cancer gets higher as you get older. Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer are over the age of 50. Men from the age of about 40 can be affected, but this is less common.
Family history
You are two and a half times more likely to get prostate cancer if your father or brother has been diagnosed. The risk increases more if your relative was under the age of 60 when they were diagnosed, or if more than one relative has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Ethnicity
African Caribbean men are three times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than white men. Researchers are looking at what may be the cause of this increased risk, but diet and genes probably play an important part.
Diet
The typical Western diet is high in saturated animal fats and red meat. Researchers think this may be responsible for the higher rates of prostate cancer seen in Western countries. By reducing the amount of animal fat in your diet and eating more of certain fruits and vegetables, you can improve your overall health and may lower your risk of prostate cancer developing or spreading. Read our page on Diet and prostate cancer for more information.