Prostate Cancer / Causes & Risk Factors
Causes & Risk Factors
Causes
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men after lung cancer. It is estimated to be found in as many as half of all men over the age of 70 and in almost all men over the age of ninety. Since the discovery of the blood test for Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) in the 1980's, prostate cancer can now be detected at a much earlier stage.
In 1999, there were over 250,000 new cases of prostate cancer with 45,000 deaths. The average age of diagnosis is 72 years and 95% of cases are diagnosed between the ages of 45-89.
The incidence of prostate cancer varies among different ethnicities. The incidence is highest in African Americans and lowest in Asian Americans. Mortality from prostate cancer has slowly risen over the last 10 years which is likely attributable to the fact that the American population is aging and experiencing less cardiovascular mortality.
Risk Factors
It is largely unknown as to what causes prostate cancer. It is thought, as with other malignancies, to be a combination of environmental risk factors in conjunction with a genetic predisposition. It is important to understand that risk factors are not "causes", but are factors that make you statistically more likely than others in the general population to have a certain condition. The following is a list of some of the more well known and accepted risk factors for the development of prostate cancer.
Risk Factors:
- Age
- Family History
- Race
- Dietary Fat
- Hormones
- Cadmium
- Vitamin A & D
Advanced age, family history and race are the three most important factors. It is for this reason that men begin screening for prostate cancer at the age of 50, unless they are African American or have a family history, then screening is to begin at the age of 40. (See section on Prevention and Screening) Approximately 9% of all prostate cancers are termed "familial." This is a form of cancer that is genetically passed on in an autosomal dominant fashion. This tends to cause prostate cancer in younger individuals (less than age 55). Furthermore, prostate cancer is unique in that it exists in two forms. There is a latent form that, although detectable, will not likely metastasize and there is a clinically evident form which is seen in approximately 1 out of 6 American men and has a potentially lethal course.
