Summarize the following:
Some of the major personal risk factors for prostate cancer are age and family history. The risk of prostate cancer increases the older you get. Although approximately 75% of the cases of prostate cancer have no pattern or order, about 20% of those with prostate cancer have had cases of the disease in their family previously. There are also approximately 5% of cases that are hereditary. More than 80% of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65. If you have a first-degree relative, which would be a father, brother, or son, with prostate cancer, your risk of developing prostate cancer is two to three times higher than the average risk. If you have BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, you are more likely to develop prostate cancer. Your doctor can test to see if you carry these genes. There may be a correlation between prostate cancer, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. This means carrying fat around your waist may increase your chances of developing prostate cancer. If you are African-American, the risk of prostate cancer is 60% higher than if you are Caucasian. African-American males are also twice as likely to die from prostate cancer and develop prostate cancer at an earlier age than Caucasian males. The hormones that your body naturally produce can contribute to the development of prostate cancer. Testosterone is a male sex hormone that is responsible for the deep voice, increased muscle mass, and strong bones that are prevalent in males. It is also responsible for the male sex drive and sexual performance and contributes to aggression. The growth of prostate cells is stimulated when testosterone is naturally converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). According to studies, excess levels of DHT have been implicated in the development of prostate cancer. Another hormone implicated in the development of prostate cancer is excessive levels of insulin growth-like factor 1 (IGF-1). There is a modest increase in prostate cancer in men who have the high levels of IGF-1.
Learn about personal risk factors. Know the role race plays. Discover how hormones contribute.