What Is Prostate Cancer?
This is a common cancer where a malignant tumor begins in the prostate gland, which is part of the male reproductive system that resides directly below the bladder. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men (about 1 in 41) in the United States, right after lung cancer. Several types of cells are found in the prostate, but almost all prostate cancers develop from the gland cells (the cells that make the prostate fluid that is added to the semen). The medical term for a cancer that starts in gland cells is adenocarcinoma.
Causes of Prostate Cancer
Researchers do not know exactly what causes prostate cancer, but on a basic level, we can say that it is caused by changes in the DNA of a normal prostate cell. The following is a list of some risk factors to be on the watch for, including but not limited to…
Risk Factors:
- Increasing Age
- Although rare in men younger than 40, the risk rises rapidly after age 50 (about 6 in 10 cases are found in men older than 65)
- Race / Ethnicity
- African-American & Caribbean men of African ancestry have a higher risk than men of other races (for reasons unknown)
- Heredity / Family History
- Diet
- Eating too much saturated fat (i.e. red meats and dairy products) and not enough fruits and vegetables can put men at a slightly higher risk
- Obesity