Prostate cancer affects 1 in 6 American men. Every year in the United States, about 217,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. It ranks third as a cause of cancer death in American men of all ages.
As an important part of the male reproductive system, the walnut-shaped prostate gland produces liquid that moves sperm. It is located between the rectum and the pubic bone, beneath the bladder.
When the condition is found early, and if it is located only in the prostate gland, treatment of prostate cancer can be more successful. If the cancer spreads to other areas of the body, treatment may become more difficult.
Cancer tumors grow from cells that have undergone genetic mutations. These changes cause cells to multiply at very fast rates. They eventually form a mass that keeps growing - this is called a tumor.
In some people, the genetic mutation is inherited. Some prostate cancers occur in men who have particular genetic mutations, such as genetic mutations seen in some families with breast and ovarian cancer. However, most cancer-causing genetic changes occur after birth.
Some genes don't directly cause cancer, but may make cells more vulnerable to carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) found outside the cell. Men of African descent have almost double the prostate cancer rates of Caucasians, possibly due to this factor.
Various factors can increase or reduce the chance of mutations, and therefore cancer. The following factors are believed to increase the risk of prostate cancer:
- age: especially over 65
- family history: having a father or brother with prostate cancer doubles your risk
- race: men of African descent are more likely to get prostate cancer and men of East Asian descent are at a lower risk
- geography: prostate cancer is rarer in Asia, Africa, and South America
- weight, physical inactivity: overweight and inactive men have higher rates of prostate cancer
- diet: eating high-fat foods and red meats, and not eating enough vegetables, fruits, and fiber
Diet may be a crucial factor in prostate cancer. The fact that Africans are far less affected by prostate cancer than Americans of African descent suggests that diet and lifestyle are partly to blame. Research has shown a link between high saturated-fat diets and prostate cancer. Some experts argue that a lack of fruits and vegetables is the problem, and that people with high-fat diets get more cancer because they tend not to eat enough vegetables. Along with a high-fat diet, very high calcium intake has also been linked to prostate cancer.
Some foods may protect against prostate cancer. Tomatoes, grapefruit, and watermelon all contain lycopene, a chemical that may lower risk of prostate cancer. Many studies have also suggested a protective effect for vitamin E, selenium, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and bok choy. If you plan on supplementing your diet with any of these nutrients, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist first. For example, high doses of zinc supplements (more than 100 mg daily) may lead to an increased risk of developing the condition.