Risk Factors in Prostate Cancer
PCa Causes
Cancer in general is cause by both external factors (tobacco, chemicals, radiation and infectious organisms) and internal factors (inherited mutations, hormones, immune conditions and mutations that occur from metabolism). These factors may act together or in sequence to promote carcinogenesis.
Prostate cancer incidence and mortality vary greatly in different geographic regions, with generally high risks of prostate cancer development characteristic of the United States and Western Europe and generally low risks of prostate cancer development characteristic of Asia. African American men and Jamaican men have the highest prostate cancer incidence rate in the world.
There are a number of prostate cancer risk factors we should consider as having a role in the pathogenesis of life-threatening prostate carcinoma:
- genetic factors- they likely play a significant role,
- environmental factors- are probably the dominant influence and account for geographic differences in prostate cancer incidence and mortality. Proof : migrants from low-risk regions to high-risk regions typically adopt the higher prostate cancer risk, within one generation.
- age factor
Prostate Cancer & Diet
Among the environmental factors, the most important is likely to be the diet. Classical Asian diets are certainly quite different compared to Western diets. Also, epidemiology studies have shown that dietary components, such as animal fats, charred meats, and others, are candidate factors increasing prostate cancer risk, while vitamins, fruits and vegetables are candidate factors decreasing prostate cancer risk.
There are no rigorous studies that would put the correct emphasis on the error of commission of the classical Western diet (i.e., overconsumption of saturated fats), or on the error of omission (i.e., underconsumption of fruits and vegetables), or both.
Animal model studies of prostate cancer development and progression have provided support for the statement that dietary components likely influence prostate cancer development. So far, the mechanisms by which some dietary components affect prostate cell behavior have yet to be fully elucidated.
Genetic factors
Genetic factors also influence prostate cancer risks, we refer to the family
history of the disease. Prostate carcinoma cases often occur in families.
Such observations suggested that in these cases there is presence of a high-risk
prostate cancer gene(s) (genes located at various sites on chromosomes 1p, 1q, and X).
Inherited prostate cancer often appears at a younger age, and at a more advanced stage,
than sporadic prostate cancer.
Cancer and Age
Another factor in prostate cancer is the persons age. The older a person, the more likely that the person's oncogenes (a few of the genes in our genome, about 100 or so, that may cause cancer) have endured several hits during the lifetime, so the more likely that the older person will develop cancer. This is especially so for breast and prostate cancer victims over 50 years old.
But many younger people also get cancer. Quite often, when cancer develops in a younger person, it is usually very aggressive and more likely to metastasize. It may be that the younger person sustained a direct hit from a strong carcinogen to their oncogenes. Another reason may be that the person, young or old, may have inherited certain genetic paws that predispose the person to have cancer.
Prostate cancer & Carcinogens
There are thousands of carcinogenic factors, and some also cause prostate cancer. We hear it every day: "lipstick likely to cause cancer", "people who do X more likely to have cancer" and so on. Apparently, these "threats" are everywhere: at the workplace, in our homes, in the air we breathe, in our food and in the genes we inherited from our parents and ancestors.
Probably never will all the carcinogens be identified. These days there are over 400 chemicals and substances that are carcinogens. Even if we could identify all of them, there is no way we could protect ourselves from them and still live a normal life.
Prostate Cancer