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We've listed here the things that can cause prostate cancer.^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7} We've also talked about things some people worry may cause prostate cancer, but don't.

Keep in mind that having a risk factor for prostate cancer does not mean you will automatically get the disease. It just means you have an increased chance compared with someone who doesn't have the risk factor. You may be alarmed to read that something doubles your risk, but if your risk is low to start with, then doubling it doesn't make much difference.

This is the strongest risk factor.About 70 percent of men diagnosed with prostate cancer are 65 or older.

The risk of African-American men getting prostate cancer isfar higher that of white American men. They are also twice as likely as white men to die of their disease. This may be due to differences in diet and genetic makeup.

If your father or brother has or had prostate cancer, you are twice as likely to get the disease as men without an affected relative. The risk is even higher if this relative developed the disease at a young age and if you have more than one relative with prostate cancer.

Men whose mothers have breast cancer may be at higher risk of prostate cancer, but researchers are not yet certain about this.

Researchershave found agene called HPC1 that may be linked to prostate cancer. A gene is the material found in all cells that tells them how to grow and behave. Men who inherit an abnormal HPC1 gene have an increased chance of getting the disease. How much this increases your risk is not yet known.

One study of 95 families with a history of the disease found that 30 percent of the family members with prostate cancer had inherited an abnormal HPC1 gene.

Eating food with a high level of animal fat may increase the risk of getting the disease. It may also increase the chances that the disease will spread in men who already have it. Researchers think fat tissues might increase the male hormone, testosterone.This hormone helps some prostate cancer cells grow.

Some studies have suggested there is a link between eating red meat and the risk of prostate cancer.Researchers don't know why this might be.One theory is that cooking red meat at high temperatures could make substances that trigger cancer.

Vitamin E may have anti-cancer properties and may lower your risk. In a large study of male smokers, those who took 50 milligrams of vitamin E daily were less likely to get and die from prostate cancer than those who didn't take the supplement. Researchers are looking at whether vitamin E can reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Selenium is an antioxidant, which means it may protect the body's tissues from damage. Daily supplements may lower your risk of prostate cancer, but we don't know yet for sure.

Eating plenty of tomatoes and soy may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Tomatoes contain a plant chemical called lycopene, and soy contains substances called isoflavones. Both may help protect against cancer.

Having other prostate problems doesn't increase your risk of prostate cancer. As men get older, the normal cells that make up their prostate start to multiply and the prostate gets bigger. It's a normal process that doctors call benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is not related to cancer.

Studies show that a vasectomy (an operation that makes you infertile) does not affect your chance of getting prostate cancer. Doctors had thought that vasectomy might increase the risk of prostate cancer because men who have the operation have higher levels of testosterone(this hormone helps some cancer cells to grow).

Your risk of getting prostate cancer doesn't seem to be affected byhow often you have sex, or the number of partners. Doctors thought more sex might increase your risk because more sexually active men may have more testosterone (this hormonehelps some cancer cells to grow).

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.