Prostate cancer: causes and symptoms
What causes prostate cancer?
We don’t know what causes prostate cancer but we do know of certain factors that increase the likelihood of developing it.
Age
Prostate cancer is rare in men under 50. The risk of prostate cancer increases with age.
Family history
Men whose father or brother had prostate cancer at an early age are more likely to develop it than men with no family history of the disease. The risk is greater if more than one relative has had prostate cancer.
What about diet?
There is no convincing evidence that any dietary factors prevent prostate cancer. Eating a high fibre, low fat diet may reduce the risk. Diets high in cooked tomatoes and high in phytoestrogens found in soy products, lentils, beans and wholegrain cereals have also been reported to have a protective effect against prostate cancer but the evidence is not conclusive.
A diet with plenty of vegetables, fruit and wholegrain cereals, though, can protect you against a number of cancers and other health problems.
Symptoms of prostate cancer
The symptoms of prostate cancer vary from one person to another. Early prostate cancer — when the cancer is confined to the prostate gland — rarely produces symptoms.
Men who have urinary symptoms — such as needing to go for a pee more often; needing to go several times during the night; feeling an urgent need to pee; difficulty starting the flow; trouble emptying the bladder; a slow stream or one that stops and starts; or leaking and dribbling afterwards — are no more likely to have prostate cancer than men without symptoms.
Advanced prostate cancer can press on the urethra and cause urinary problems but by then it is probably causing other more serious symptoms.
Most prostate cancers are slow growing, occur in men over 50 years and often do not shorten life. A man may have prostate cancer without it causing him any physical problems.
For further information and advice, call the Cancer Helpline on 13 11 20.
Last Reviewed: 08 November 2001
