an important risk factor is age; more than 70 percent of men diagnosed with this disease are over the age of 65. african american men have a substantially higher risk of prostate cancer than white men including hispanic men. dramatic differences in the incidence of prostate cancer are also seen in different populations around the world. there is some evidence that dietary factors are involved such as vitamin e and selenium which may have a protective effect. genetic factors also appear to play a role particularly for families in which the diagnosis is made in men under age 60. the risk of prostate cancer rises with the number of close relatives who have the disease.
who is at risk for prostate cancer?