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Things
you cannot change
Some
risk factors for prostate cancer are
simply unpreventable:
Age: As men grow older, there
is a significantly increased risk of
developing prostate cancer.
Statistics reveal that by the
age of 50, almost 33 percent of men
have small prostate tumors.
This figure increases to 75 percent
by the age of 80 and 90 percent by the
age of 90.
Race and hormone levels:
There seems to be a direct relationship
between high levels of testosterone
and high incidence of prostate cancer.
Further, research has revealed a direct
relationship between hormone levels
and race.
From a race standpoint, Asians
are in the group of lowest testosterone
and, therefore, at least risk of prostate
cancer.
Caucasians fall in the middle
risk group.
Blacks, who have the highest
testosterone levels, have about twice
the incidence of prostate cancer as
other groups.
Other hormone factors:
The sex-hormone binding globulin
(SHBG) appears to be a risk factor.
The lower the level of SHBG,
the greater the risk.
Conversely, higher levels of
estradiol (female hormone) seem to lessen
risk for developing prostate cancer.
Family history:
Though the average mans risk of developing prostate cancer
is between 10 and 15 percent, if other
family members have had prostate cancer,
the risk of developing
prostate cancer and developing
it earlier increases significantly.
The risk doubles if a single
family member has had prostate cancer.
When two family members have
had the condition, the risk becomes
two to five times greater.
This risk increase holds true
whether the history is in either the
maternal or paternal side of the family.
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