DNA is responsible for the makeup of a person's genes, and is inherited from their parents. Prostate cancer is a result of changes in this DNA, and is a cancer that affects only men. While a variety of factors may result in prostate cancer, no exact cause is known.
Age
The most common risk factor for prostate factor in men, according to to the American Cancer Society, is age. Once a man reaches the age of 50, his risk increases rapidly, with nearly two out every three cases occurring in men over the age of 65.
Ethicity
African American men are more prone to developing prostate cancer than men of any other race, according to the Mayo Clinic. Men in this race are also more likely to be in the advanced stage of the disease when it is discovered, and are more likely to die from from it. The cause for this is not yet known.
Family History
Prostate cancer appears to run in some families, and men with a brother or father or brother who have this disease, or who have a history of it, or more prone to receiving a diagnosis themselves. This is especially true if their family members were young when they were struck with prostate cancer.
Diet
The American Cancer Society states that men who eat more red meat and high-fat dairy products than fruits and vegetables tend to be at greater risk for developing prostate cancer. The ACS also says that doctors are not sure which factor increases a man's risk the most.
