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Cancer Information Tips :: What Causes Prostate Cancer
What Causes Prostate Cancer: Causes of Prostate Cancer Aren't Known, But Risks Are
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What causes prostate cancer is unknown. Although enlarged prostates are a very common problem among older men and a large percentage of older men develop benign prostatic hypertrophy, it is not necessarily true that the two are related.
Relation and risk factor are two different things, though.
So while we don't know what causes prostate cancer, we do know what puts a man in a higher risk group for developing prostate cancer.
Age Factors
While it's not a cause, age definitely plays into the risk of getting prostate cancer. Men over the age of fifty are at a much greater risk than younger men of developing prostate cancer.
As men age, they are also at a higher risk for developing an enlarged prostate. Men with enlarged prostates or a history of an enlarged prostate are at greater risk for developing prostate cancer.
Hereditary Risk
A family history of any cancer puts someone in a higher risk group for developing cancer than someone with no family history of cancer. This holds true for men whose fathers or older brothers have had prostate cancer.
There are three genes being studied that may play a part in the hereditary risk that surrounds prostate cancer. These genes are called HPC1, HPC2 and HPCX. There is no absolute proof that these genes have anything to do with hereditary risk.
African American men are also at a higher risk for developing prostate cancer. It is not known why since it is not known what causes prostate cancer.
Diet & Lifestyle
An active, sound lifestyle is important for anybody hoping to maintain good health. A sedentary lifestyle can put a man at higher risk for developing prostate cancer. So can a lifestyle that involves smoking.
A diet that lacks vitamin D or vitamin E, or includes too much saturated - or animal - fat, could contribute to a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Conversely, a diet with a lot of fruits and vegetables is thought to lower the risk.
Hormones
The male hormone, testosterone, is also thought to be a part of the development of prostate cancer. Testosterone stimulates growth in the prostate and that includes growth of cancer cells in the prostate.
If this is a part of what causes prostate cancer, there is not a lot that can be done since testosterone is the male hormone.
Hormone therapy can, however, stop the body from producing testosterone and work at fighting the growth of the cancer.
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CancerInfoTips.com :: What Causes Prostate Cancer