Causes of prostate cancer and various risk factors

Prostate cancer is one of the most common causes of death in men. Based on 2018 Globocan data, as many as 5,007 people in Indonesia died from this disease. However, you can still prevent prostate cancer by recognizing the various factors that can cause and increase the risk of this disease. Then, what are the causes and risk factors for prostate cancer?

Recognizing the causes of prostate cancer

Basically, prostate cancer is caused by DNA changes or mutations in normal prostate cells.

These normal cells should grow and divide in a reasonable number, then they will die and be replaced with new cells. However, when DNA mutations occur, these cells remain alive and reproduce uncontrollably.

If this is allowed, these abnormal cells will accumulate and form tumor tissue. Some of these cells can also spread to other organs, or what is known as metastasis.

DNA mutations can occur by being passed down from family members (inherited). This condition is found in about 5-10 percent of cases of prostate cancer.

However, most people with cancer are likely to have developed cancer cells at some point in their life and not a congenital condition. This condition is also known as acquired gene mutations.

However, the cause of the DNA mutation that causes prostate cancer is not known with certainty. However, experts believe there are several factors that can increase the risk of prostate cancer in men.

Various factors increase the risk of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a disease that can happen to anyone. However, several factors are said to increase the risk of developing this disease, such as:

1. Age

As you get older, the risk of prostate cancer increases. You are more likely to develop prostate cancer when you are 50 years old.

Reporting from the American Cancer Society, six out of ten cases of prostate cancer are found in men aged over 65 years. However, in rare cases, this disease can also occur in men under the age of 40.

2. Family history

Risk factors that may be the cause of other prostate cancer, namely family history. You are at double the risk of developing prostate cancer if you have a father or brother with a history of the disease. In fact, the risk is much higher if your brother gets prostate cancer at a young age.

In addition, you are also at risk for prostate cancer if you have a family member with a history of breast cancer, due to an inherited gene mutation (BRCA1 or BRCA2). These gene mutations, particularly BRCA2, also cause a small number of prostate cancer cases.

3. Overweight or obesity

Overweight or obesity is said to increase the risk of developing advanced prostate cancer. In fact, prostate cancer tends to be more deadly in obese men. The association between obesity and the risk of prostate cancer is believed to be related to the size of the waist, hips and stomach circumference in obese people.

Reporting from Harvard Health Publishing, overweight men have an additional 8% risk of developing prostate cancer, while obese men increase their risk of developing prostate cancer by 20%. In fact, severe obesity can increase the risk by up to 34%.

4. Height

A study published in BMC Medicine in 2017 points to the fact that tall men are more likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer.

Although height alone is not a cause of cancer, experts have noted that tall men usually have more cells and a larger volume of the prostate.

When combined with other risk factors, such as parental genes, the likelihood of cancer cells growing in the prostate in tall men is greater than in men with moderate or short stature.

5. Certain foods

Several studies have found that men who consume a lot of calcium, both from food intake and supplements, are more at risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. You are also at risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer if you eat less fibrous foods, such as vegetables.

Apart from calcium and lack of fiber, foods high in animal fat are also said to increase the risk of prostate cancer, especially if consumed in excess. These foods include red meat (beef, lamb, and pork) as well as high-fat dairy products (butter, high-fat milk, cheese, and cream).

6. Smoking habits

Several studies have found that smoking can be a contributing factor to aggressive prostate cancer. In fact, smoking increases the risk of death from prostate cancer slightly. However, these findings still require further research to prove it.

7. Lack of movement

Men who rarely exercise and are less active are associated with obesity. Therefore, men who are sedentary can be at risk of developing prostate cancer. Conversely, men who diligently exercise have a greater chance of recovering and surviving this disease.

8. Inflammation of the prostate gland

Inflammation in the prostate gland or prostatitis is said to be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. The reason is, inflammation is often seen in prostate tissue samples which also contain cancer. However, the link between prostatitis and prostate cancer has not been proven by research.

9. Sexually transmitted diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, are said to cause prostate cancer. The reason is, both of these diseases can cause inflammation of the prostate. However, so far researchers have not agreed on this and still need further research.

10. Sleep disturbances

Men who get enough sleep all night tend to have a lower risk of prostate cancer. The reason is, men with adequate sleep and without interference have higher levels of the hormone melatonin, which is thought to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

On the other hand, a study published in BMC Cancer in 2019 found that patients with sleep problems were associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, which increases with age.

11. Certain diseases

Apart from the risk of developing colon cancer, Crohn's disease is also said to increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. Research from Northwestern Medicine in Illinois found that people with Crohn's disease have high levels of PSA (prostate-specific antigent) higher. The high PSA level can be one of the factors causing prostate cancer.

The risk factors for prostate cancer are still being debated

Apart from the risk factors above, there are several other factors that are also said to be the cause of prostate cancer. However, these risk factors are still being debated in the medical world. Various studies can also show mixed results. The following are the risk factors that are still being debated:

1. Vasectomy procedure

Some studies suggest that men who have had a vasectomy may be at risk for prostate cancer. However, research related to this is still being done to prove it, so that this factor as a cause of prostate cancer is still uncertain.

2. Frequent ejaculation

According to a study published in the European Journal of Eurology, men who ejaculate frequently are found to have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer, compared to men who ejaculate rarely. The reason is, the semen that comes out during ejaculation can help remove foreign substances that cause inflammation and cancer-causing free radical compounds found in the prostate.

However, a study published in the journal BJUI found other facts. The study actually shows that men who are sexually active (often having sex or masturbating) actually have an increased risk of prostate cancer earlier, in their 20-30s. Therefore, it is still not certain whether a person is at risk of prostate cancer.

Even if you have one or more of the risk factors above, it does not mean that you will definitely get the disease. You can reduce the risk of prostate cancer by adopting a healthy lifestyle and other prostate cancer prevention methods. If you feel the symptoms of prostate cancer, go to the doctor immediately to get the right treatment.