Causes

It's not known exactly what causes prostate cancer, although a number of things can increase your risk of developing the condition.

These include:

• age – the risk rises as you get older, and most cases are diagnosed in men over 50 years of age
• ethnic group – prostate cancer is more common among men of African-Caribbean and African descent than in Asian men
• family history – having a brother or father who developed prostate cancer before age 60 seems to increase your risk of developing it; research also shows that having a close female relative who developed breast cancer may also increase your risk of developing prostate cancer
• obesity – recent research suggests there may be a link between obesity and prostate cancer, and a balanced diet and regular exercise may lower your risk of developing prostate cancer
• diet – research is ongoing into the links between diet and prostate cancer, and there is some evidence that a diet high in calcium is linked to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer

Want to know more?

• Prostate Cancer UK: are you at risk?
• Prostate Cancer UK: diet, physical activity and your risk of prostate cancer
• Cancer Research UK: prostate cancer risks and causes

Page last reviewed: Sat Jun 2021 Next review due: Wed Feb 2020