The specific causes of prostate cancer are not fully understood, but several risk factors are known to increase the chance of developing the condition:

1. Age: The risk of prostate cancer increases as men get older, particularly after the age of 50¹².
2. Ethnic Group: Prostate cancer is more common in Black men and less common in Asian men²³.
3. Family History: Men with a family history of prostate cancer are at a higher risk, especially if a father or brother had the disease²⁴.
4. Obesity: There is evidence suggesting that obesity may be linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer²⁵.
5. Diet: Certain dietary factors may influence risk. For example, high calcium intake has been associated with an increased risk, while the consumption of tomatoes (rich in lycopene) may reduce the risk of advanced prostate cancer¹⁵.

Other potential factors include:

• Environmental Exposures: Exposure to certain environmental and occupational hazards (e.g., pesticides, chemicals) has been studied in relation to prostate cancer risk³.
• Hormonal and Genetic Factors: Higher levels of certain hormones like testosterone and genetic mutations have been linked to higher prostate cancer risk⁴.

Overall, while lifestyle modifications like maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking, and eating a balanced diet rich in vegetables and low in high-calcium foods can be beneficial, genetics and age remain significant contributors to the risk¹⁵.

Footnotes

1. Kathryn M. Wilson, "Diet and Lifestyle in Prostate Cancer," PubMed, 2019. ↩ ↩² ↩³

2. NHS, "Prostate cancer - Causes," NHS Website, 2023. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

3. Jeffrey K Mullins, "Environmental exposures and prostate cancer," PubMed, 2024. ↩ ↩²

4. Keng Lim Ng, "The Etiology of Prostate Cancer," NCBI Bookshelf. ↩ ↩²

5. JM Chan, "What causes prostate cancer? A brief summary of the epidemiology," PubMed, 1998. ↩ ↩² ↩³