Risk Factors

African Americans Are at Greater Risk

According to the American Cancer Society, African American men are 60% more likely than white men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Researchers don’t know why. They’re also more than twice as likely to die from the disease.

African American men tend to be diagnosed with prostate cancer three years younger than whites and they’re more likely to have “high grade” tumors — the kind that grow fast, spread to other parts of the body, and often cause death.

Prostate cancer is less likely to occur in Asian American and Hispanic/Latino men.

Family History Red Flags

Brother or father with prostate cancer: You’re twice as likely to get prostate cancer if your brother or father had the disease. A brother with prostate cancer represents a bigger red flag for you.
Several relatives with prostate cancer: The American Cancer Society says the risk of getting prostate cancer is much higher for men who have several relatives with the disease, especially if their relatives were young when the cancer was first diagnosed.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Eating large amounts of red meat or high-fat dairy products can raise your risk of getting prostate cancer.