What Causes Prostate Cancer
Aug 7th, 2007 by Brandon
by Brandon Cornett
Cancer of the prostate is an ailment that occurs only in men, and mainly in older men over the age of 60. More specifically, the majority of prostate cancer cases occur in men over 65 years of age. The condition is far less common in men under 50 years of age.
Dietary Factors of Prostate Cancer
It is difficult to determine what causes prostate cancer on a patient-by-patient basis. But most current research suggests that a person’s diet contributes to the risk of prostate cancer. Diets that are high in animal fat (such as red meats) can significantly increase the risk of prostate cancer. For this reason, prostate cancer is more common in countries like the United States, where meat is significant part of the average diet.
The Testosterone Connection
Testosterone plays a role in prostate cancer, and that’s what ties it to diet. A diet rich in animal fats elevates the level of testosterone production. Increased levels of testosterone can accelerate the growth of prostate cancer (when the cancer is already present), and may even cause the initial onset of the cancer. Research connecting testosterone levels with the onset of prostate cancer is still “young” research — but the general connection between testosterone and prostate cancer is widely accepted in the scientific community.
Environmental Exposures
Medical research has also suggested a connection between prostate cancer and certain environmental exposures. For instance, men who work in certain industries such as rubber, batter production and welding appear to be more susceptible to prostate cancer.
What Does Not Cause Prostate Cancer
As with most cancers, researchers have more luck ruling out potential causes of prostate cancer than confirming the actual causes. Despite common misunderstanding, there is no proven link between cancer of the prostate and vasectomies, circumcision, male infertility, masturbation or an active sex life.
Another common misconception is that an enlarged prostate signals the onset of prostate cancer. This is not always the case. In fact, most men over the age of 60 have some degree of prostate enlargement, and in many cases it is a benign enlargement (also known as benign prostate hyperplasia, or BPH). See prostate glossary for more on BPH.
Related Articles Offsite
Prostate Cancer Risks and Causes
An in-depth article on the various risk factors and causes associated with prostate cancer, provided by Cancer Research UK.
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Prostate Cancer Causes
This article outlines some of the age, race, and genetics-related causes of prostate cancer. There are also links to many more articles on the site.
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