Prostate cancer, which is cancer of the small gland that
produces seminal fluid, is the second most commonly diagnosed
cancer in men. Approximately 1 out of 6 men will be diagnosed
with prostate cancer in their lifetime. It is estimated that
nearly 190,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer every
year. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in men.
While it is not completely understood why some men develop
prostate cancer and others do not, there are some risk factors
that have been determined in studies, including: - Age over 65:
age is the primary risk factor for prostate cancer, as the
chance of getting it increases as a man ages; only rarely do men
under 45 years of age get it. - Family history: the risk for
getting prostate cancer is greater if a close relative had it. -
Race: African American men are likelier than white or
Hispanic/Latino men. Prostate cancer is less common among Asian
and Native American men. - Changes to the prostate: a type of
abnormal cell known as high-grade prostat