Like many cancers, no one knows for sure what causes prostate
cancer, but there are risk factors that point to certain things that
can be done to prevent it. That being said, some risk factors that
increase the likelihood of being diagnosed with prostate cancer cannot
be avoided (like age) while others (such as exercise) are within a
person’s control.
Prostate cancer is a slow-growing cancer
that forms in the prostate – a gland that is only found in men. The
chance that a man will get prostrate cancer in his lifetime increases
dramatically as he gets older. In prostate cancer patients, 67% of men
are over the age of 65. Another factor that is uncontrollable is race;
African American men are more likely to get prostate cancer than
Caucasian or Asian males.
Nationality and family history are
two additional risk factors that play a part in prostate cancer. Men
that live in North America have the highest risk of getting prostate
cancer as opposed to South America, Asia or Africa. If a man has had a
close relative diagnosed with prostate cancer he should be monitored
for cancer himself on an ongoing basis.
Regardless of the
risk factors that are not in your control. By taking control of your
diet and exercise routine you can lower your risk of getting prostate
cancer. Men should include a healthy variety of foods in their diet
with special attention paid to high-fiber fruits and vegetables. It is
recommended that men should consume 5 servings every day of this food
group. In addition, they should limit their intake of red meat and
high-fat dairy. These two foods have shown up quite frequently as a
mainstay in the diet of prostate cancer patients. And most men over
the age of 65 with a routine exercise program had lower instances of
being diagnosed with prostate cancer.