Researchers have recently identified a gene that is linked to some cases of prostate cancer. So far, prostate cancer has not been linked to common cancer-causing substances in the environment. Prostate cancer is seen mostly in men over the age of 55. Fruits, vegetables, and fatty fish may lower a man's risk for prostate cancer. A high fat diet may increase the risk.
Prostate cancer occurs most often in African and northern European ethnic groups.
It is less common in American Indian and Asian men. A man's risk is higher if his father or brother had prostate cancer. Men who have had a vasectomy , who smoke , or who have been exposed to a metal called cadmium may also be at an increased risk. As yet, prostate cancer cannot be completely prevented. Prostate screening with exams and blood tests helps with early diagnosis.