The causes of prostate cancer are not known, but some things do seem to affect your risk of developing the disease:

Age

Prostate cancer is rare in men under 50, but your risk of developing it increases as you get older.

A family history of prostate cancer

If you have one close relative (father, uncle, brother) who has prostate cancer, your risk of developing it is approximately doubled. Having two close relatives with prostate cancer increases your risk by about four times.

Our section 'Are you worried about prostate cancer?' has further information if you are worried about it running in your family.

African ancestry

African-American and African-Caribbean men seem to be more at risk than other ethnic groups.

Exposure to certain chemicals and x-rays

Exposure to cadmium and x-rays increases the risk of prostate cancer.

Dietary factors

Several nutrients present in our diet, which may offer protection from developing prostate cancer, are being researched. These include lycopene from tomatoes, vitamin D and E, soya and selenium. Some research suggests that eating a diet without much animal fat, dairy produce and protein may reduce your risk.

Diabetes

Men with diabetes have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer than men without diabetes.