The prostate is an organ located under the bladder in men and is also a significant part of the reproductive system. This walnut-sized organ produces seminal fluid to nourish and protect the sperm. Prostate cancer usually develops during the later stages in life, and it grows slowly. In very rare cases, cancer cells in the prostate grow quickly and spread to other organs.

Among the top risk factors for prostate cancer is gender. While 1 in 9 men develop this disease, only 1 in 39 will die. It’s essential to understand the risk factors for prostate cancer to help take preventive measures and reduce the likelihood of developing it. Regular screenings also help in detecting prostate cancer early even before symptoms occur.

Age
Your age is one of the most significant factors for developing prostate cancer. Nearly 70% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men who are 65 and older. While the disease is less aggressive with advanced age, the chances of developing it are higher in aged individuals.

Family history
If you have relatives and close family members who have had prostate cancer, your risk of developing it is very high. If your father or your brother had/has the disease, then your odds of developing prostate cancer doubles. The chances of developing it increase further if you have multiple family members diagnosed with prostate cancer. It’s, therefore, advisable to start getting screened at age 40 to detect the possibility of developing this condition.

High testosterone levels
An increase in testosterone levels greatly increases the growth of the prostate gland. This significant growth caused due to testosterone therapy increases your chances of catching prostate cancer.

Race
Race or your ethnic background is one of the top risk factors for prostate cancer. Nearly 60% of African-American men develop this disease than white Americans. However, Africans and even Japanese living in their native countries have a low risk of developing this condition. There’s no clear information on why a specific race of men develops prostate cancer. However, the environment where they work together strongly influences the chances of diagnosing prostate cancer.

Diet
Consuming a diet high in dietary fats and low in fruits and vegetables spikes the chances of being diagnosed with prostate cancer. It’s even more common in countries where the diet is significantly made up of meat and dairy products. These meals are very low in rice, soybean, and vegetables, and sharply increase the risk of catching prostate cancer.

Obesity
While extra pounds don’t necessarily increase your chances of prostate cancer, you can develop a low-grade type of aggressive prostate cancer. But obese men do have a higher chance of dying from prostate cancer.

A sedentary lifestyle
A lack of physical activity is a prime reason among the top risk factors for prostate cancer. That being the case, a sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk of developing other conditions like colon cancer and endometrial cancer. However, there seems to be a connection with a lack of physical activity and obesity with metabolic syndrome that increases the risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.