Cancer Disease Symptoms

Prostate cancer causes are not fully able to be explained, but it appears that changes in the DNA of a prostate cell bring on the cancer. DNA is what makes up our genes, which in turn can control how individual cells behave under certain circumstances. We inherit DNA from our parents, and they from their ancestors. A very small percentage, around five to ten percent, it seems to be linked to these changes that are inherited.

It has also been shown to be possibly linked to certain hormones' high levels. Higher than average levels of the male hormone androgens has been shown to possibly play a part in the risk of contracting prostate cancer. Researchers have also noted that men who have a high level of a hormone known as IGF-1 are more likely to suffer from prostate cancer. But other scientists have not agreed with the finding of this link.

We can only use risk factors to help determine causes , since we don't know what exactly is the most causative factor. Various cancers will have different risk factors, and some, like smoking, can be controlled. But others, like family history or age, cannot be altered.

The presence of risk factors isn't a sure sign, either. Some people have many risk factors, but never develop cancer. At the same time, other people with no apparent risk factors, do develop cancer. The links between risk factors and prostate cancer is not fully clear.

The most important risk factor appears to be age. Your chance of developing cancer goes up most speedily after you reach fifty years of age. Nearly two of three cases occurs in men over 65 years of age.

Race appears to be another risk factor in the development of cancer. For reasons unknown, African-American men are affected more than men of other races. They are also more likely to suffer from the more advanced stages of the disease, and thus are more likely to die because of prostate cancer. In addition, prostate cancer occurs more often in non-Hispanic white men than in Hispanic/Latino and Asian-American men. The reasons for these differences in likelihood are not clearly understood.

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