Prostate Cancer Risks

Men may report problems with their urinary tract to medical professionals but most are unaware of the problems that can be caused if urinary symptoms are not taken care of.

Many men experience urinary tract problems throughout the course of their lives. Some conditions are benign where as prostate cancer can be prove to be fatal if not treated quickly and properly. Benign conditions are urinary tract infections, bladder infections, prostatic hyperplasia (referred to as an enlarge prostate) or prostatitis (an infection of the prostate). BPH can affect all males but there are higher cases reported in older males because the prostate can enlarge to affect the proper functioning of the opening of the urethra.

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To determine whether or not the urinary symptoms lead to a benign or malignant condition, several risk factors are assessed. There are many theories about how an individual may be predisposed to prostate cancer. The most reported common causes of prostate cancer are: genetics, hormones, age, diet, lifestyle issues and environment.

Prostate Cancer is the most diagnosed cancer when causes and attributes to the second leading cause of death in males behind lung cancer. African American males have a higher rate of prostate cancer diagnosed and unfortunately a high mortality rate from prostate cancer.

As for prostate cancer, family history determines how the individual will fall into a possible prostate cancer category. There are 3 types of family history: sporadic, familial, and hereditary. Sporadic is defined as only one male diagnosed at the onset of the cancer. Familial is defined as more than one male diagnosed with cancer but no link to genetics and older age onset. Hereditary is defined as a family with more than 3 affected relatives, family history on either maternal or paternal sides or family with two or more relatives where onset is at a young age.

Hormones can indicate a possible link to prostate cancer. Two hormones that have been signaled as an important predicator in the detection of prostate cancer are estrogen and DHT(dihydrotestosterone). An imbalance in estrogen has been known to be the cause of the reemergence of prostate cancer cells. DHT has been regarded as one of the primary sources in prostate cancer. DHT is also linked to a patient’s bad dietary habits.

Like with any medical conditions or diseases, smoking is on the top of the list as being a contributor to the link of cancers. It had been reported that the males diagnosed with prostate cancer and were smokers had a higher rate of metastatic prostate cancer cells.

Men with a large bone density mass have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. The hormone IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) has been found in patients with large bone mass. IGF-1 has been found in patients over 40.

The age of a patient varies in the severity of the cancer. Most patients diagnosed are between the ages of 65 and older. Younger males diagnosed have a higher rate of genetics, diet, and environment being an indicator of prostate cancer.

Diet plays an important role in helping aid the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Males that consume a high fat calorie intake are more likely to be predisposed to prostate cancer.

Exposure to chemicals from the workplace or in the general environment has been linked to increased rates of cancers-including prostate. Men who worked in chemical or steel factories or dealing with pesticides or other hazardous chemicals show a higher rate of predisposition to cancers. Cold, northern climates that do not have enough sunlight exposure can cause a direct result of a Vitamin D deficiency in humans and animals. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to the formation of cancer cells.

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