Causes and risk factors
Prostate cancer is the second most common tumor in men. The causes of prostate cancer are still not understood completely, though as in the rest of tumors, there are certain risk factors that increase the chances of having a tumor. These include:
- Age
Sex (considered one of the main risk factors) 70% of tumors are diagnosed in men over the age of 65 (men under 50 are at a lower risk of developing the disease).
- Family history
Most men who develop a tumor have no family history.
However, it is true that risk increases when:
- there is a case of prostate cancer among members of one's close family and the cancer was diagnosed at a young age (under 60)
- two or more family members (on the same side) have developed the tumor
Experts believe that only 5-10% of cases of prostate cancer are due to genetic inheritance.
- Diet
Some scientific evidence indicates that diet can influence the appearance of prostate cancer; however, this is not entirely clear. As with most tumors, it is believed that diets high in animal fats may increase the risk.
Fiber-rich and low-sugar diets reduce the risk of developing certain tumors.